Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars Recipe

Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars are so good! Imagine a buttery, delicious crust underneath a creamy lemon filling and a crispy sugary top.

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars

These tangy and sweet treats are made with a buttery shortbread crust and a creamy lemon filling that will make your mouth water.

But first, let’s answer a question — in case you don’t watch the Food Network.

Who is Ina Garten?

Ina Garten is an American author and host of the Food Network show Barefoot Contessa, where she shares her simple and elegant recipes with her fans.

She started her culinary career by buying a small specialty food store in the Hamptons, which she ran for 18 years before selling it and writing her first cookbook. Since then, she has published 12 best-selling cookbooks and won three Emmy awards for her show. Her most well-known dishes include Perfect Roast Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Lemon Bars, and Beef Bourguignon.

Ina is a self-taught cook who learned from reading Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking and traveling to France with her husband Jeffrey. She is not only a successful cook and author, but also a former staff member of the White House Office of Management and Budget, where she worked on nuclear energy policy. She is a role model for many aspiring cooks and home entertainers who admire her passion, creativity, and warmth. 🍽️

🍋🍋🍋 Celebrate LEMONS with us in this roundup of our best LEMON DESSERTS! 🍋🍋🍋

Close up of creamy lemon filling barwith sugary top

Lemon Bar Ingredients

All you need for Ina’s Lemon Bars are some basic ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, such as butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and lemons. That’s right, no fancy or expensive ingredients required. Just simple, fresh, and delicious.

The recipe has two parts: the crust and the filling. The crust is a buttery shortbread that melts in your mouth. The filling is a creamy lemon custard that is tangy and sweet. The contrast between the two textures and flavors is amazing.

FAQ: Lemon Bars

Can you overcook lemon bars?

The filling should jiggle, like firm Jell-O. And if it’s looser than that, you’ll likely end up with runny lemon bars. If they don’t jiggle at all, you’ve overcooked them and they may taste grainy.

Do lemon bars have to be refrigerated?

Well, if you’re planning to serve the bars within 24 hours of baking them, they are fine to be left at room temperature. Any longer than that, I would suggest refrigerating them.

Can I freeze lemon bars?

Yep! You can thaw them overnight in the refrigerator when you’re ready to eat them.

How many lemons make a cup of juice?

So, about six lemons should do the trick, depending on the size of your lemons.

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars are so good! Imagine a buttery, delicious crust underneath a creamy lemon filling and a crispy sugary top.

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars

Yield: 20 bars
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars are so good! Imagine a buttery, delicious crust underneath a creamy lemon filling and a crispy sugary top.

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

  • 6 extra-large eggs
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
  • 1 cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup flour
  • Powdered Sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
  2. Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment, and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the flour and salt until dough forms.
  4. Press the dough into the pan, building up 1/2 inch crust on all sides.
  5. Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Chill.
  6. Whisk together all of the remaining ingredients (except the powdered sugar), and pour into the cooled crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is set. Let cool to room temperature or chill overnight.
  7. Dust with powdered sugar before cutting and serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 337Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 116mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 4g

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Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars Recipe
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21 thoughts on “Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars Recipe”

  1. I LOVE lemon and these look wonderful. I could eat one now at 7:30 in the morning. HA!!! I don’t make many lemon things because I can’t leave it alone and my hubby isn’t much for it.

  2. Wow, these are gorgeous. Love the filling! I’ve never met a lemon bar that I didn’t inhale in two seconds flat, and I’m sure that these would take even less time to take care of!
    Happy Mother’s Day!

  3. I am such a fan of Ina’s recipes and have had major success with this lemon bar recipe as well. So glad you’re sharing this as well!

  4. I do have one question you said there’s a sugary crunchNess on top but you don’t put any sugar before you bake it I don’t understand

    • It’s just the way they bake up 🙂 Some of the sugar from the filling separates and creates the crunch up top. It’s yummy!

  5. I made these and while I love the texture and the lemony goodness, they were way too sweet. Next time I make them, I will reduce the sugar by half.

  6. Looks sublime;) I do, however, have a jar of lemon curd in my pantry that I haven’t been able to use as yet. Could I use the curd for the filling instead?

  7. Ina, thank you for sharing this great looking recipe. I can’t wait to try it, lemon is my favorite I can taste it already.

  8. my batch is in the oven right now as I type. On the last ten mins. The smell in my house is SPRING!!  I made a vanilla wafer crust. I hope it turns out ok. I was pressed for time but it’s baking up beautifully. 

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