This post, which features the perfect gluten-free lemon bar recipe, contains affiliate links. This post has been updated March 2020. Please see my disclosures.
I personally think dessert is meant to have chocolate in it… however, there is one exception in my book and that is when it comes to lemon bars.
Lemon bars are my kryptonite.
I love lemon bars and will choose them over a chocolatey dessert any day.
For a long time, I thought I had to give up lemon bars because it’s rare to find a good gluten-free lemon bar at the supermarket, and I didn’t know how to make them.
Related Reading: Gluten-Free Lemon Crinkle Cookies Made with Almond Flour
However, as my baking skills have improved over the years, I’ve come to realize that it’s quite easy to make lemon bars at home, especially if you have a recipe as good as the one I’m sharing with you in this post.
I used to love my mother-in-law’s lemon bar recipe, so I took her recipe and made it gluten free and even more lemony and delicious. The results are amazing, and these gluten-free lemon bars are truly the most perfect lemon bars I’ve ever had.
How to Make Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Lemon bars have a shortbread bottom and custardly lemon topping. You’ll need a good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make both the shortbread and custard topping.
To make the shortbread base, combine all the crust ingredients in your mixer. You’ll need a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, sugar, and softened butter.
Mix the ingredients together well, using your mixer, and you’ll wind up with a crumbly crust, that, when pressed together, forms the solid base for your lemon bars.
You can see below how I press the mixture in place to form an even layer of crust.
You’ll bake the shortbread crust for 17-18 minutes until it’s set and only par-baked.
While the crust is baking, prepare your lemony custard topping.
Combine all your filling ingredients, including sugar, eggs, 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Once the crust is par-baked (after about 17-18 minutes in the oven), pour the egg mixture over the crust and place it back in the oven to continue baking.
Bake for another 18-20 minutes until the lemon topping is set and the edges are only slightly brown.
Be sure to allow the mixture to fully cool before cutting into it, and definitely before topping it with powdered sugar. If you put the powdered sugar on top of warm lemon bars, it will be absorbed into the lemon topping and won’t look as pretty.
I usually allow the lemon bars to cool for a full hour at room temperature, then put it in my fridge for a few hours – or overnight – before I cut into it.
If you cut into it while it’s still warm, you’ll wind up with a gooey mess. Resist the urge in order to get perfectly squared and oh-so-pretty lemon bars!
Tip! If you want to be evenly shaped and pretty when you cut into them, trim off the edges (and eat them as your much-deserved reward for working so hard in the kitchen).
Why I Love These Lemon Bars
These gluten-free lemon bars have a lot going for them.
For starters, the crust is soft, flakey, and buttery. You bite into it and the crust just melts in your mouth.
Furthermore, the custardy topping is sweet and lemony and has a wonderful texture that is hard to describe. You can taste the fresh-squeezed lemon and lemon zest bits. People will go crazy for your lemon bars – I promise!
Top them with a sprinkle of powdered sugar for an elevated taste and appeal.
I cut my gluten-free lemon bars into 16 small squares, allowing each person to enjoy 5-6 bites of sweetness. Eat ’em slow and savory all the flavors that sing in your mouth.
Anyway you slice them, I’m certain you will love these gluten-free lemon bars and it will be a go-to dessert recipe when you’re asked to bring a non-chocolate dessert.
Related Reading: The BEST Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake You’ll Ever Eat
Perfect Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/3 cups Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend (190 grams)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup softened butter
Filling
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tbsp Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 4 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (about the juice of 1 lemon)
- Zest of one entire lemon (about 2 tsp)
Topping:
- 2 Tbsp powdered sugar set aside for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º degrees F.
- Grease an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
- In a bowl attached to your standing mixer (or use your hand mixer), combine all crust ingredients. Using the low setting on your mixer to mix ingredients for about 1-2 minutes until well combined and you wind up with a crumbly mixture.
- Press mixture in an even layer in your greased baking dish.
- Bake crust for 17-18 minutes until the edges start to lightly brown.
- While the crust is baking, combine all filling ingredients in the same bowl and mix on medium speed until well combined.
- Pour filling over par-baked hot crust and continue baking for 18-20 minutes until filling is set and edges just begin to brown.
- Allow ample time for lemon bars to cool, preferably overnight in the fridge (it's easiest to cut the bars when they are completely cool).
- Cut into 16 even squares and top with powdered sugar as desired.