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Leigh Anne Wilkes

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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: 1/30/21Updated: 2/14/22

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

Lemon bars are definitely one of my favorite treats and I’ve been making these particular lemon bars for 40 years! My mother made them before me. 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.

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. I pretty much have no self control when it comes to these lemon bars so if I made a full batch, I would eat a full batch.

lemon bars cut into pieces.

You can find my full size lemon bar recipe here.

This lemon bar starts with a shortbread crust. It is baked first and then the delicious lemon curd like filling is added on top of the baked shortbread and then it is popped back in the oven for a bit longer. Finally, it is drizzled with a delicious lemon glaze to give it even more amazing lemon flavor.

overhead shot of lemon bars

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
  • Pressure 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 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.
side view 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

Be sure and try some of our other small batch recipes including small batch banana bread, small batch brownies and small batch chocolate chip cookies.

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

5 from 5 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
Cook:30 minutes
0 minutes
Total:45 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.

Recommended Products

Glass Loaf Pan

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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  1. Joanna M. says

    Posted on 7/10 at 7:08 pm

    It’s been a while since I’ve had a lemon bar and since it’s just me and I saw the small batch option, I had to. I am happy I did! So easy, buttery, lemony and so good. I will def. Be making these from now on. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  2. geela gordon says

    Posted on 5/20 at 7:47 am

    thank you for sharing your recipe

    Reply
  3. BreAnne Thompson says

    Posted on 4/6 at 5:24 pm

    Could you please clarify for me? The ingredients say 1 Tbsp flour, and the directions say 2 Tbsp flour (step 5.) Which one is correct? Thanks for all you do! This is my favorite cooking website!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      Posted on 4/27 at 12:53 pm

      Sorry about that – it should be 1 tbsp flour.

      Reply
  4. Chris says

    Posted on 4/3 at 9:21 am

    Do you use salted or unsalted butter?

    Reply
  5. Nola Aharp says

    Posted on 2/3 at 3:10 pm

    Recipe calls for an egg but doesn’t say when to add it. How much baking powder?

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      Posted on 2/3 at 3:22 pm

      Sorry about that – recipe is updated.

      Reply

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