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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Dessert / Small Batch Lemon Bars

Small Batch Lemon Bars

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 1/30/23Updated: 2/08/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

overhead shot of sliced lemon bars

Small Batch Lemon Bars are the perfect amount for 1-2 people. They have the perfect balance of sweetness to tartness and the texture is perfection.

small batch lemon bars on parchment paper

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Lemon bars are definitely one of my favorite treats and I’ve been making these particular lemon bars for 40 years! I am pretty particular about my lemon bars and these bars have the perfect texture, not too gooey and the perfect flavor, not too sweet or tart. They have a shortbread crust, a delicious lemon curd like filling, and are drizzled with a delicious lemon glaze.

Now that we are a reduced size family, I love taking my all time favorite recipes and adjusting them to make just enough for two.

You can find my full size lemon bar recipe here.

lemon bars cut into pieces.

Lemon Bar Ingredients

  • All purpose Flour
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Butter
  • Baking powder
  • Eggs
  • Lemon juice and zest. I always use fresh squeezed lemon juice for best flavor.
lemon bar ingredients

How to Make Small Batch Lemon Bars

  • Pan. I use a glass 9 x 5 loaf pan. I always line it with parchment paper because it makes removing the lemon bars from the pan so much easier!
  • Make shortbread crust. Mix together your flour, powdered sugar and butter until the mixture is crumbly with pea size pieces of butter.
lemon bar crust mixing in a bowl
  • Press mixture into bottom of parchment lined loaf pan. Press down to form an even layer.
shortbread layer in a pan for lemon bars
  • Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 15 minutes or until it just begins to brown around the edges.
  • Mix together sugar, 1 Tbsp flour and baking powder. Add in egg, 1 Tbsp lemon juice and zest of lemon. Stir to combine.
  • Pour gently over baked crust.
pouring filling over lemon bars
  • Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes until it is set and light brown around the edges.
  • Mix together powdered sugar and additional lemon juice to form a glaze with a nice drizzling consistency.
drizzling glaze over lemon bars
  • Cool lemon bars for 5-10 minutes and drizzle while they are still warm.
  • Allow to finish cooling before cutting.
overhead shot of lemon bars
  • After they have cooled I like to slice them into quarters. If I am feeding a few more people I will slice them into quarters and then cut the quarters in half so I have eight pieces.
overhead shot of small batch lemon bards

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to refrigerate small batch lemon bars?

Lemon bars do not need to be refrigerated. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. They will last up to a week if they are stored in the fridge.

Can I double this recipe?

You can double it, just an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Can I use another type of juice?

If you prefer, you can use lime juice or orange juice. Both would be delicious.

Be sure and try some of our other small batch recipes:

  • Mini Key Lime Pie for Two
  • Small Batch 30 Minute Rolls
  • Lemon Sheet Cake for Two
  • lemon dessert recipes
  • Butterfinger Cookies

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

5 from 10 votes
overhead shot of small batch lemon bards

Small Batch Lemon Bars

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Small Batch Lemon Bars are the perfect amount for 1-2 people. They have the perfect balance of sweetness to tartness and the texture is perfection.
serves: 4 servings
Prep:15 minutes minutes
Cook:30 minutes minutes
0 minutes minutes
Total:45 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cup butter cold
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/8 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • zest of one lemon

Lemon Glaze

  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Blend together butter, 1/2 cup flour and powdered sugar until crumbly and pea size pieces of butter.
  • Line 9 x 5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • Press flour mixture into bottom of pan in an even layer.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12 minutes, until lightly brown around edges.
  • Mix together sugar, 1 Tbsp flour, egg and baking powder.
  • Add in 1 Tbsp lemon juice and zest. Stir to combine.
  • After shortbread crust has baked, remove from oven and pour lemon curd mixture over the top.
  • Return to oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until light brown around edges.
  • Allow to cool 5-10 minutes
  • Drizzle with glaze.
  • Cool and cut into bars.

Glaze

  • Combine powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to make a nice drizzling consistency.

Tips & Notes:

Lemon bars do not need to be refrigerated. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. They will last up to a week if they are stored in the fridge.
You can double it, just an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Recommended Products

Glass Loaf Pan
Measuring Cups
Microplane

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 352kcal (18%) Carbohydrates: 58g (19%) Protein: 3g (6%) Fat: 13g (20%) Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 71mg (24%) Sodium: 118mg (5%) Potassium: 46mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 44g (49%) Vitamin A: 414IU (8%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 13mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
overhead shot of small batch lemon bards
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5 from 10 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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  1. Mary says

    Posted on 5/24 at 1:31 pm

    These are delicious and so easy to make. This recipe is a keeper.

    Reply
  2. zinnia says

    Posted on 5/2 at 10:57 am

    I recently discovered your channel on youtube and you were making these lemon bars. So I gave it a try! My husband and I loved them. So delicious, although I think I may have overbaked mine a little ( whoops) because the top of mine was really cracked, and yours looks smooth. I’ll be trying again, because we really like them.
    Also I wanted to thank you for having recipes that serve small portions.
    It is just 2 of us, and although left overs are okay once, more than that we have waste. I’m a subscriber and can’t wait to discover more!
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
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