Get ready for the most delicious lemon bars with a graham cracker crust! You only need 9 ingredients to make these simple and fresh lemon bars. Since they're made with sweetened condensed milk, they are so creamy and rich. Plus, using sweetened condensed milk is a heck of a lot easier than making lemon curd.
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My lemon bars with graham cracker crust are made with condensed milk, making them super rich, creamy and so indulgent!
You get a ton of lemon flavor thanks to fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. I really recommend using the real thing and not lemon juice in a bottle (for once, store-bought is not fine, sorry Ina!)
Super Simple Lemon Bars
I tested these with a graham cracker crust, although I know a shortbread crust is more traditional! I love the taste of the toasty graham crackers with the sweet lemon. When developing this recipe, I wanted to make these lemon bars as easy as... lemon bars? I know it's as easy as pie, but stick with me here.
Part of making it easier is reducing the number of dishes used. You only need one bowl to make these, and you don't even have to drag out the old stand mixer! And because we're using sweetened condensed milk, we don't have to worry about these lemon bars cracking in the oven.
If you're looking for more lemon desserts, try my lemonade bundt cake, lemon poppy seed cupcakes and lemon curd muffins.
Recipe Testing
Originally, I made this recipe with a lemon curd filling, but I know that can be a tricky recipe! To make this way easier (and also have fewer ingredients), I opted to use sweetened condensed milk. This means that instead of having an overly sour or tart filling, you have a super creamy lemon filling. I found it so much easier to make versus a lemon curd filling.
Ingredients Needed
- Fresh lemons are key 🍋 We need fresh lemons for the zest and juice in the lemon layer, be sure to use lemons and not bottled lemon juice!
- Sweetened condensed milk is the secret ingredient 🤫 This recipe uses 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk. Make sure you're using that and not evaporated milk.
- A dash of vanilla 🍦 I have also tested this recipe with fiori di sicilia, a vanilla and lemon extract, and it tasted wonderful!
Let's Make These Bars!
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350ºFahrenheit and line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Mix the graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl with the salt and sugar. Pour in the (cooled) melted butter and mix, making sure all of the crumbs are moist.
Step 2: Pour the graham cracker crust into your prepared pan. Use the bottom of a metal measuring cup to press the crust down evenly. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool slightly. Keep the oven at the same temperature.
Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk all of the lemon filling ingredients together until smooth.
Step 4: Pour the lemon bar filling into the graham cracker crust. Use a small offset spatula to even out the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 24-28 minutes, or until the sides have set and the middle doesn't jiggle. Let cool completely in the pan, then place in the fridge for 6-8 hours. Remove from the pan and slice into squares.
My Baking Tips & Notes
- Using Clips: I recommend using metal clips to clip the parchment paper into place. It's much easier to pack in the graham cracker crust if you do that! If the clips you're using aren't metal, be sure to remove them before baking or they'll melt!
- Lining the Pan: I like to use two pieces of parchment paper that overhang the sides of the pan. This will make it a lot easier to get the lemon bars out of the pan.
- Decorating these Lemon Bars: You can decorate these lemon bars with powdered sugar and fresh lemon zest!
- Falling Apart Crust? You might have added too much melted butter to the graham cracker crust. In my first test, I had a bit more melted butter, and it made the graham cracker crust too soggy!
- Getting That ✨Clean✨ Slice: The first step is making sure they've had enough time to chill in the fridge. You want them to be completely cold. Next, use a sharp knife. After every slice, run the knife under hot water and then quickly dry it with a paper towel. This will give you super clean slices!
Love Lemon Desserts? Me Too!
Made This Recipe?
Make sure to leave a ⭐️ rating and review below! You can tag me on Instagram @alpineella or follow along on Pinterest, Facebook and TikTok!
Thank you!
Ella
Recipe
Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust
Equipment
- 1 8x8 baking pan
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) graham cracker crumbs 10 crackers
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5 ½ tablespoons (77 grams ) butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Lemon Filling
- 2 14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ cup (100 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Make Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/175℃. Line an 8x8 baking pan, making sure you have an overhanging sling, this will make it easier to get the bars out after. I recommend using metal clips to clip the parchment paper into place.
- In a bowl, whisk the graham cracker crumbs with the salt and sugar. Add the melted butter and stir to make sure all the crumbs are moist1 ½ cups (150 grams) graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, 5 ½ tablespoons (77 grams ) butter
- Pour into the prepared baking pan and use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack down the crust evenly. Take the clips off if you're using them.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven to cool slightly. Keep the temperature at 350℉.
Make Lemon Filling
- In a large bowl, whisk all of the lemon filling ingredients together until well combined and smooth.2 14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk, 4 large egg yolks, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, ½ cup (100 ml) fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pour into the cooled crust. Place in the oven for 24-28 minutes, or until the edges have set and the middle doesn't jiggle.
- Let cool completely at room temperature, then place in the fridge for 6-8 hours. Remove from the pan and slice into squares.
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Nicola Reiczyk says
Made these delicious bars. Very easy to make.
They disappeared very quickly.
Catherine says
Great success. I made them twice this week. A recipe to keep!