BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (2024)

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by Sandyon Jan 19, 2022

Enjoy these sweet and lightly tart BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe; a lemony favorite dessert easy to freeze for last-minute company!

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (1)

Brighten up your day with these Lemon Sunshine Bars.

Get the real taste of sunshine with these lemony Sunshine Lemon Bars, perfect for any occasion. For Game Day, we love to serve a lemon dessert and a chocolate dessert. Or, you could try these No Bake Meyer Lemon Strawberry Bars!

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BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe

These bars are bright and zingy, on a quick and easy shortbread crust. So good!

Honestly, I could eat lemon bars anytime of the year. Add a little dusting of sweet powdered sugar (a kiss of sweetness) on top.

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Sunshine Lemon Bars

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon peel, or zest
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, I buy Meyer Lemons
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
Powdered sugar

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (3)

How to make lemon bars

  1. In a medium bowl, mix flour, butter, and powdered sugar. Press into an ungreased square pan, building the edges up 1/2-inch.
  2. Bake the crust.
  3. In the same bowl, beat the granulated sugar with a hand mixer, with lemon peel, lemon juice, baking powder, salt and eggs, until light and fluffy. Pour the mixture over the hot crust.
  4. Bake!
  5. Cool; dust with powdered sugar. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares.

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (4)

The ice is slowly melting on our deck. We’re ready, old man winter … bring on the sun!

Sunshine, happy springtime sunshine, is what we long for. You, too?

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe

Here’s a little trick with lemon bars. Did you know you can freeze them? I love to double a recipe and freeze one, making it ready to pull out and defrost for company.

Lemon bars in winter, with a cup of coffee–oh so good. For when you want to throw open the doors and let the sunshine in, if only for a few minutes (even though the sun shines 300 days a year in Bend, Oregon, it’s very chilly in the springtime).

I remember my mom making these bars. They are delectable.

So go ahead and make some today and you’ll bring a little sunshine into your day.

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (5)

More lemon treats:

Lemon Poppyseed Bread

Cranberry Lemon Pull Apart Bread

Lemon Blackberry Bread Pudding with Mascarpone Vanilla Frosting

Creamy Lemon Curd Recipe

Pound Cake Lemon Trifle Recipe

Lemon Cheesecake Cake

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (6)

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BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 50 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Yield: 8

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. grated lemon peel, or zest
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, I buy Meyer Lemons
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 2 eggs
  • Powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350ºF.

  • In a medium bowl, mix flour, butter and powdered sugar. Press into an ungreased square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches, building the edges up 1/2-inch.

  • Bake the crust for 20 minutes.

  • In the same bowl, beat the granulated sugar with a hand mixer, with lemon peel, lemon juice, baking powder, salt and eggs, for about 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Pour the mixture over the hot crust.

  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

  • Cool; dust with powdered sugar. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares.

Notes

reposted from Feb. 2017

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (7)

Related Posts:

  • No Bake Meyer Lemon Strawberry Bars
  • Strawberry Cream Shortbread Dessert
  • Game Day Charcuterie Board
  • Maple Pecan Chocolate Pavlova

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (12)

Hello and welcome to my home and table!

I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...

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Desserts Recipes

published on Jan 19, 2022

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2 comments on “BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe”

Leave a comment »

  1. Kirstin TroyerReply

    There’s nothing like a good ol’ lemon bar. YUM! I can’t wait for the flowers to peek through the ground…the birds!

  2. LeighReply

    These look fantastic. I love all things lemon!
    We are in MT, and it’s still cold with lots of snow. But, we love wintertime with cozy, comforting meals, and winter is kind of a hibernating time for us. It’s really relaxing, especially after the holidays. I didn’t know about freezing lemon bars. Good to know!

BEST Lemon Sunshine Squares Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to cutting lemon squares? ›

I have found that a hot, wet, very sharp knife helps quite a bit. Also, make sure the bars are completely chilled before cutting.

Can you leave lemon squares out overnight? ›

Is it okay to leave lemon bars out overnight? It is o.k,actually. Baked goods like lemon bars are acidic enough and contain enough fat and sugar,which exclude water from bacterial use, that there is no problem keeping them at room temperature for up to 24 hours; well wrapped.

Do lemon squares go bad? ›

To store lemon bars, simply place in an airtight container and seal tightly, then put them in the fridge. If you're stacking lemon bars, insert a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. According to the USDA, lemon bars will last in the refrigerator up to 7 days.

What is lemon square made of? ›

The lemon bar, also called lemon square, is a popular type of dessert bar in the United States consisting of a thin shortbread crust and a lemon curd filling.

How do you cut squares evenly? ›

Carefully Score The Marks Before Cutting The Bars

Simply measure and mark the desired width of each slice along the edge of the pan, then use a sharp knife to cut along the markings. This method can help ensure that each slice is perfectly uniform, even if you're working with an oddly shaped pan or unusual dimensions.

Do you have to refrigerate lemon bars? ›

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated? Yes. Because the filling is basically a custard, you will want to keep them in the fridge. However, if you have a party and are serving them, they will be fine at room temperature for a couple hours.

How do you keep powdered sugar from melting on lemon bars? ›

To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch

You don't want to add too much cornstarch, though: At a certain point you'll be dusting the top of your cake with cornstarch instead of powdered sugar — and we don't want that! So go slow and be conservative with the amount of cornstarch you add.

Do you refrigerate lemon bars after baking? ›

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated? Yes, it's best to store lemon bars in the refrigerator. To store them, simply cover them with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge. Stored this way, your lemon bars should keep for about 1 week.

Is it better to leave lemons out or in the fridge? ›

Whole lemons are best kept in the fridge. It can be tempting to store lemons in a pretty bowl on your countertop or kitchen table, but avoid the urge to decorate with fresh fruit. Left at room temperature, lemons will dry out, leaving you with less juice and a tough rind.

Why did my lemon bars get brown on top? ›

Never take hot custard and place it in a fridge immediately after cooking. Should lemon bars brown on top? Remove your lemon bars from the oven before they turn brown on top. Browning means they're over-cooked, and the custard mixture can curdle.

Why did my lemon bars not set? ›

If your lemon bars are too soft to cut, it could be that the filling wasn't cooked sufficiently. Make sure to heat the curd to between 77 ºC and 82 ºC (170 ºF–180 ºF) to ensure the curd sets properly and has the right texture, firm enough to cut but still creamy. Another reason could be that they are too warm.

How do you cut a 9x13 pan of bars? ›

For a 9 x 13-inch pan, first cut the bars lengthwise into 4 equal-sized strips. Start with one cut down the middle from one short side to the other. Then cut a slice halfway between the edge of the pan and the center cut on both sides to make 4 long strips.

Why can't i use a metal pan for lemon bars? ›

Acidic ingredients can cause the metallic pots or spoons to leach into the ingredients. Whenever making things with lemon, vinegar or other highly acidic ingredients it is best to stick with heatproof glass bowls and pans, stainless steel pots and silicone utensils.

How do you keep lemon squares fresh? ›

Store the bars in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve chilled or room temperature. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. After they are completely cooled, freeze the batch whole, covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap.

What are Mama Yarn's lemon squares? ›

Mama Yarn's Famous Lemon Squares is a food that can be used as an advantage. When Sock eats them, he gains power to kick Team 2's boulder to the mountain in Smarter & Boulder.

How do you cut lemon bars without sticking to the knife? ›

To prevent the lemon filling from sticking to the knife, you can dip the knife into warm water and wipe it dry before each cut. The warmth of the knife will help glide through the filling without dragging or smearing it.

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