Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! It finally feels like summer here in Chicago. Time to get the grills cleaned and beers opened 😉 I wanted to bake something today and I asked my husband what he wanted. His response, “how about something light and summery?” The first thing that popped into my head was lemon bars! I never made homemade lemon bars before, I have always used a box (what?!?). But this recipe is so simple and delicious, so let’s get started…

What you will need:

9 x 13 inch pan lined with foil and then buttered. Tip: I easily halved this recipe since I’m not feeding that many people, and used an 8 x 8 inch pan. But the following recipe is for using a 9 x 13.

For the crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature

For the filling:

4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons flour
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Lemon zest from 1 lemon (optional)

To make the crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered sugar and salt. Then, with your hands, mix in the butter until it resembles a crumbly texture. Spread and press this “dough” into your prepared pan, making sure it is even. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Once it is done, let cool on a wire rack while you make the filling.

To make the filling:

In a large bowl, beat eggs with a fork. Add in granulated sugar and flour and mix well. Then, add in lemon juice and mix until everything is incorporated. Pour over the crust. If using, sprinkle lemon zest on top. Bake for another 25 minutes, or until filling is set and cooked through.

Let cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, remove from pan and sprinkle with additional powdered sugar. Cut into squares and enjoy! Tip: I like mine right out of the fridge 🙂