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These lemon bars begin with a melt in your mouth shortbread crust that’s layered with a sweetly tart lemon filling and a lemony glaze on top!
As much as I’ve always loved traditional lemon bars with powdered sugar dusted across the top and a crisp crust on the bottom, sometimes you just want something different. And these bars? They put classic lemon bars to shame.
Sunburst Lemon Bars are the most amazing lemon bars I’ve ever tasted and I’m so excited to share the recipe with you all.
A reader once told me that the bright flavor is reminiscent of stepping into a burst of sunlight. Dramatic? oh yeah, but these bars are worthy of it.
The Best Lemon Bars
Yes, I did just call these the BEST. This recipe starts with a buttery, flaky shortbread that is so good, I’ll happily eat it plain. To make the shortbread even better, we’re going to top it with a gooey lemon filling that is sweet and tangy and spoon-licking delicious.
Then, the literal icing on the cake is a lemon glaze to take it right over the top. Sunburst Lemon Bars are like no other lemon bar I’ve ever tasted.
The video for this recipe is one of my favorites. Seeing my little boy’s hands in the video and hearing his voice? This is truly one of my favorite things about the work that we do. Also, Nate says if you haven’t tried these bars yet, they really are “perfecto mundo.” With a review like that, how can you resist?
These bars are a gooey sweet twist on the classic, with just enough tang from the lemon juice and zest to balance the sweetness.
We’ve been making these bars for a few years now and every time I make them, I wonder why I waited so long to make them again. As a long-time fan of traditional lemon bars, I will admit now that I haven’t made a single batch of the classic lemon bars since I found this recipe.
I make lots of different dessert bars with fruit filling and while I enjoy them all, from Pineapple Coconut Bars, Strawberry and Peach Cobblers to Blackberry Coconut Crisps, Sunburst Lemon Bars are near the top of the list of my personal favorites.
I could eat one every day and probably not get sick of them (which is saying something since I don’t usually have much of a sweet tooth).
Gluten Free Lemon Bars
This lemon bar recipe can be made gluten-free and with regular all-purpose flour. My preferred gluten-free flour blend for this recipe is a combination of brown rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch. I’ve made and loved them both the gluten-free way and the regular way many times.
Gluten-free lemon bars are a great dessert to bring to a party or gathering of any kind even if you can eat gluten. Especially because these bars taste better than any “regular” lemon bar AND the gluten-free folks at the party will want you to be their new best friend when you show up with an incredible dessert that they can enjoy too.
The recipe here has been adapted from and with thanks to So, How’s It Taste? and Pillsbury.
What makes these bars special?
The lemon filling in this recipe is what really makes these bars burst with flavor. I use a more than generous amount of fresh lemon juice and zest to pack each bar with the tart and tangy taste of lemon.
If you don’t like your lemon desserts quite so tart, feel free to reduce the amount of lemon zest and juice in the recipe. I, however, like them just as they are.
The glaze in this lemon bars recipe really sets them apart from the crowd. When the glaze sets, it creates a beautiful layer of pure sweet extra lemony goodness on top of the lemon filling.
If you have any lemon dessert lovers in your life, you MUST make them these lemon bars. With some lemon desserts, I find that the lemon flavor just isn’t strong enough for my liking. If I eat a lemon bar I want to taste the lemon first and foremost.
It just doesn’t get any more citrusy and lemony than Sunburst Lemon Bars, I promise you.
If you love lemon desserts, you’ll want to check out this Lemon Angel Pie, Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Glazed Lemon Cookies, and this 5-Minute Lemon Curd. (I’m serious, FIVE minutes to perfect lemon curd. Make it now and you can thank me later!)
These Coconut Lemon Pudding Parfaits and this Blueberry Lemon Shortcake need to be on your list of desserts to try as well. You can check out all of the Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes here!
Sunburst Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour*
Filling Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (use brown rice flour for GF alternative)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice plus more as needed
*Gluten-Free Alternative
- 1⅓ cup brown rice flour
- ⅓ cup tapioca starch
- ⅓ cup potato starch
Instructions
Crust Directions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Combine the butter, sugar, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl and beat for a minute or so until combined. Add the flours and the beat until the mixture is crumbly.
- Press the crust into the bottom of a parchment-lined or an ungreased 9×13 pan. Parchment paper is not required, but it will make slicing the bars and removing them from the pan much easier. Bake for 25 minutes, until light golden brown.
Filling Directions
- While the crust is baking, in a large bowl lightly beat the eggs with a whisk. Add the remaining ingredients and beat with a whisk until combined. Remove the partially baked crust from the oven and pour the filling over it.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until the top is light golden brown and starting to crack around the edges. Let cool completely, at least 1 hour.
Glaze Directions
- In a small bowl, stir or whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add more lemon juice, by just a few drops at a time, until the glaze is a pourable consistency.
- Spread the glaze over the cooled bars and then let it set for at least half an hour before slicing. Cut into bars and store in the refrigerator. Bars can be served cold or returned to room temperature first. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally posted 5/22/2013 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/17/22}
Oh how I love lemon bars! These look amazing! Guess I'll have to make my own cause I'm thinking you didn't save me any 🙂
Those are so gorgeous! I love the name too. They look like little bursts of sunshine!
Oh my, these just look divine! I find myself wanting to snitch one right through the computer screen, can't wait to give them a try.
I've had lemon bars on the brain lately. I want to make these for the pre-wedding day cookout. Thanks – they really look delicious!
I am not in need of gluten free, but these sound so good why the hell not!
Oh my goodness – amazing!! I want one for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Mary x
Do these need to be stored in the refrigerator or is it just a preference to eat them cold?
I wouldn't leave them at room temperature for more than a few hours. In my climate, it is too warm for that and they soften a good bit. I prefer them a bit firmer, as they are when chilled. It's a preference.
To practice portion control, I wrap them individually and put them in the freezer. Yep, they are delicious frozen too!
These were awful 🙁 way too sweet and the consistency was off. I would not recommend this recipe. I wasted a lot of time and ingredients on this one.
I'm sorry to hear that the bars didn't work out for you. Were you making the GF recipe or traditional flour version? I've made both several times without any problems. You mentioned that the consistency was off, did they not set up for you? I'm happy to help if possible.
I had the same problem….was way too sweet and I don’t know but they didn’t set right. Something I didn’t do right? I did the traditional flour version.
The crust was yummy though! 😊
These are great. Definitely use parchment paper when you make them though…
These were a huge hit at work!!!
I made these using AP flour and they were gobbled up right away. Great recipe. Thanks!
I made them for my co-worker and she requested the recipe!
What is AP flour please, I do not need to do gluten free.
AP = regular all purpose flour. Enjoy!
Or plain flour if in UK!
What is the texture like for these? They look good!
The texture is similar to traditional lemon bars, with a crisp shortbread crust and a slightly crisp layer of glaze on the top as well.
Amazing! Everyone RAVES about these and wants the recipe!
Thank you so much for the added GF options!!!
I have been looking for an easy and good lemon bar recipe…… Well this is it!! Made these this week and I have to say this is the best lemon bar recipe ever! Will definitely be making these again real soon. Thanks!
Heavenly love your recipes
Can you make this recipe sugar free?
So nice to find gluten free dessert recipes. Thank you