Perfect Christmas Lemon Bars — The Bright Cookie Tray Addition

Lemon bars are the bright cookie tray addition. Tart-sweet on shortbread base. The contrast to chocolate cookies that brightens the tray.

The classic recipe (9x13 pan)

Shortbread base

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup butter (cold; diced)

Filling

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest

Topping

• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Mix flour + powdered sugar; cut in butter
3. Press into 9x13 pan
4. Bake 20 minutes (until lightly golden)
5. Whisk eggs + sugar + flour + lemon juice + zest
6. Pour over hot crust
7. Bake 20-25 more minutes (filling set)
8. Cool completely
9. Refrigerate 2 hours
10. Cut; dust with powdered sugar

Variations

Lime bars

• Replace lemon with lime
• Tropical twist

Christmas cranberry-lemon

• Add 1/2 cup chopped cranberries to filling
• Festive color

Coconut-lemon

• Sprinkle coconut on top before baking
• Tropical version

Storage

• Refrigerate; airtight
• 4-5 days
• Dust with powdered sugar before serving

Cross-references

For perfect Christmas sugar cookies — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas blondies — adjacent.

For perfect Christmas magic bars — adjacent.

For Christmas cookie recipes — broader.

Perfect Christmas lemon bars brighten the cookie tray. Tart-sweet; shortbread base. The bright contrast to chocolate. The Christmas cookie that gets requested.