Ina Garten's Lemon Bars - Something Swanky Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated after baking? ›

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F).

These are by far my favorite lemon bars. The thick layer of lemon curd really sets them apart! Its almost like a mini lemon meringue pie without the meringue and a crispy and sweet crust topped with powdered sugar. We like to add a liberal dusting of powdered sugar to ours prior to freezing them.

The thin, crackly, sugar crust that forms on top when these lemon bars bake is one of my favorite things! It is just a result of some of the sugar rising to the top and hardening during the baking process.

Lemon filling: Mix lemon zest and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, flour, baking powder, and eggs. Mix until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture over the baked crust.

Here's what you can do: Return them to the oven: Preheat your oven to the same temperature as the original baking temperature (usually 350°F). Place the undercooked lemon bars back in the oven and bake them until the custard sets. Keep an eye on them and rotate the pan every 5 minutes to ensure even baking [1].

Seeing a thin whitish foamy layer of air bubbles on top of your baked lemon bars is completely normal. It is the air bubbles created from whisking the eggs rising to the surface during baking. Lemon bars taste the same with or without that layer and a dusting of icing sugar covers it right up!

Yes, lemon bars freeze beautifully—they are even good frozen! To freeze the bars, let them cool completely and freeze the batch whole, covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, for up to three months. (The cut bars can also be frozen in a single layer.)

Reprinted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Copyright 1999 by Ina Garten, Clarkson Potter/Publisher.

Fresh Lemon to Lemon Juice Conversions

1 1/4 Lemons = 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice. 2 1/2 Lemons = 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice. 4 Lemons = 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice. 5 1/4 Lemons = 1 Cup Lemon Juice.

If your lemon bars have a strong eggy taste/smell, it's likely due to the lemon curd being overbaked. Be sure to take the lemon bars out of the oven as soon as they're done. Your oven may also be running a little hot.

What is the brown dot on my lemon? ›

Brown spots vary in appearance and can indicate a range of problems. Uniform spots with clear boundaries often point to fungal issues, while irregular blotches could signal bacterial infections. Spots with a yellow halo might be citrus canker, and those that look like tiny scabs could be a sign of lemon scab disease.

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

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.

If your Lemon Bars have a runny center, it might be because you under baked the crust. The bars will also become runny the longer they sit out at room temperature.

Don't Over-Bake.

If you leave them in the oven too long, it can cause your bars to crack.

The best way to store lemons is in an airtight container in the refrigerator — stored this way, whole, uncut lemons will last up to one month. Alternatively, whole lemons can last on the countertop at room temperature for up to one week.

In a covered, airtight container for up to one week. It doesn't really freeze well. Lemon curd does contain eggs and dairy (butter), so I'd be ok leaving it out for the day if I plan on serving it, but anything overnight definitely would need to be refrigerated.

How do you store lemon cake? This cake can be left at room temperature for the day, however overnight it will need to be refrigerated due to the cream cheese in the frosting.

If you plan to use the lemons within a few days of purchase, store them away from direct sunlight. They typically stay fresh for about one week at room temperature. After this point, they start to wrinkle, lose their vibrant color, and develop soft or hard patches. Store extra lemons sealed in the refrigerator.