This easy recipe for Gluten Free Lemon Bars makes a lemon dessert that’s quick and delicious. The tart lemon filling and sweet topping make them impossible to resist!
There’s something about bright, ripe, lemons that add a little sunshine to the day. I like to make these lemon bars whenever I need a little something sweet and want to brighten my day.
A good lemon bar will have enough tart lemon flavor to make you pucker, but still be sweet enough to keep you wanting more. These gluten free lemon squares certainly fit the bill.
This recipe requires less than 10 ingredients, a winner in my book, and is super easy to prepare. My number one tip is to always use fresh lemons. You might be tempted to use bottled lemon juice, but fresh lemons are the only way to go.
Why this Recipe Works
- Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add a bright fresh flavor.
- The buttery shortbread crust is the perfect base for this lemony dessert.
- A sprinkling of powdered sugar finishes the bars with the right amount of sweetness.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Gluten free flour blend - Use a cup-4-cup gluten free flour blend. I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Flour. If you don’t have a problem with gluten, you can substitute all-purpose flour.
- Powdered sugar - Also known as confectioner’s sugar.
- Butter - Unsalted butter. For dairy free use Earth Balance butter sticks.
- Sugar - White granulated sugar.
- Baking powder - Check the expiration date on the container to make sure your baking powder is fresh.
- Eggs - Large eggs, at room temperature.
- Lemon juice - I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice in this recipe.
- Lemon zest - The zest adds an extra level of lemon flavor to the bars.
How to Make Gluten Free Lemon Bars
- Whisk together flour and powdered sugar.
- Melt butter and combine with flour mixture.
- Press dough into a pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- Make the lemon filling.
- Pour the filling over the warm crust and bake for 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool, then cut into squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Serve and enjoy!
Step By Step Instructions
(For ingredient amounts see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil leaving an overhang around the edges. Lightly spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together one cup of flour and ¼ cup powdered sugar.
Melt the butter and add to the flour mixture. Stir together until combined.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 15 minutes. While the shortbread crust is baking, make the lemon filling.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and baking powder.
Add the eggs and stir until combined. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest.
Pour the filling mixture over the baked crust and return the baking dish to the oven.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the filling is browned on top and set in the middle.
Remove the baked lemon bars from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
Use the foil to lift the cooled lemon bars out of the baking dish. Cut the dessert into 16 squares.
Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup powdered sugar over the lemon squares.
Serve and enjoy!
Gluten Free Flour Blend
Make sure to use a good quality all-purpose gluten free flour blend when making these lemon squares. I use Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 which contains xanthan gum.
Xanthan gum helps to hold the baked goods together. In traditional baking, gluten in all-purpose flour acts as the binding agent for the baked good. Gluten free baking requires a replacement for the binding agent and that’s where xanthan gum comes in.
Your results may vary depending on the gluten free flour you use. I haven’t tried using almond flour or coconut flour with this recipe.
Remember to use the “spoon and level” method when measuring your gluten free flour. Simply use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup and then use the back of a table knife to level off the top. Using the measuring cup to scoop the flour directly from the canister or bag can give you more flour than needed in the recipe.
Need more Gluten Free Lemon Desserts?
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest. Bottled lemon juice has its place, but you won’t get the same bright, sunny, flavor you get from fresh lemons.
- Grate the lemons first to remove the zest before juicing them. Roll the lemons back and forth on the counter for a couple of minutes pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand. This will help break down the lemons and allow you to get more juice out of each one.
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with foil to make it easier to remove the dessert in one piece. Lightly spraying the foil with cooking spray keeps the foil from sticking to the bottoms of the lemon squares.
- Dust the tops of the lemon squares with a little or a lot of the powdered sugar depending on your preference. I like to completely coat the tops with the sugar, but you will still get the sweet flavor, if you prefer to lightly dust the tops.
Traditional lemon bars are not gluten free. There is usually all-purpose flour, which contains wheat, in the crust and in the lemon filling.
However, this recipe is free of gluten and tastes just like classic lemon bars.
If you’re planning to serve the lemon bars on the same day you make them, simply store them in an airtight container at room temperature. After the first day, I recommend storing the lemon bars in the fridge for up to three days.
Serve the refrigerated lemon bars cold or allow them to come up to room temperature. You may want to dust them with additional powdered sugar since the sugar will soak into the bars while in the fridge. Another option is to wait until you’re ready to serve the lemon bars before dusting the tops.
Yes. Allow the bars to cool completely then cut into squares. Wait to sprinkle with powdered sugar until you’re ready to serve. Freeze the lemon bars in a single layer, in a freezer-safe container.
The lemon squares can be stored for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw the bars overnight in the fridge. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
If you’re a lemon lover, or know someone who is, you need to try these lemon bars. The bright, tart, lemon flavor will add a little sunshine to your day. Happy Baking!
More Gluten Free Dessert Recipes You’ll Love!
- No Bake Oreo Cheesecake Recipe
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- Easy Rhubarb Crumble
- Banana Cake
- Chocolate Toffee Bars
- Easy Blueberry Crisp
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Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons gluten free flour blend
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- ¼ cup powdered sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with foil leaving an overhang around the edges. Lightly spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together one cup flour and ¼ cup powdered sugar.
- Melt the butter and add to the flour mixture. Stir together until combined.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, make the lemon filling. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and baking powder.
- Add the eggs and stir until combined. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.
- Pour the filling mixture over the baked layer. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Lift the cooled lemon bars out of the baking dish and cut into 16 squares.
- Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup powdered sugar over the bars.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest. Bottled lemon juice has its place, but you won’t get the same bright, sunny, flavor you get from fresh lemons.
- Grate the lemons first to remove the zest before juicing them. Roll the lemons back and forth on the counter for a couple of minutes pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand. This will help break down the lemons and allow you to get more juice out of each one.
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with foil to make it easier to remove the dessert in one piece. Lightly spraying the foil with cooking spray keeps the foil from sticking to the bottoms of the lemon squares.
- Dust the tops of the lemon squares with a little or a lot of the powdered sugar depending on your preference. I like to completely coat the tops with the sugar, but you will still get the sweet flavor, if you prefer to lightly dust the tops.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information provided is an estimate and will vary based on products and brands you use. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the ingredients you are using with your preferred nutrition calculator.
This recipe was first published in 2020 but was published again in 2023 to include updated images, additional text and FAQs.
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