Ina Garten’s ‘Really Lemony’ Lemon Bars Will Make the End of Summer So Much Sweeter

The summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean the summer fun has to stop just yet. If you’re planning to host one or two more garden parties or backyard BBQs before the season is over, then you may want to check out this Ina Garten recipe before you plan your dessert spread. Garten has a recipe for lemon bars that are “really lemony” and may just be the perfect way to end summer on a high note.

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Garten’s recipe starts with two sticks of butter (that’s how you know this recipe is going to be delicious) creamed with sugar. This is going to be the base of your crust. With your stand mixer going, add flour to form the dough, as well as a pinch of salt.

“This is really a shortbread dough. It’s so much easier to make,” Garten said in a clip from Barefoot Contessa shared on the Food Network Instagram page. “It doesn’t require a rolling pin. I’m just going to pat it right into the pan.”

Once the dough is pressed evenly into your pan, let it chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes, and then bake it for another 15 minutes until it’s lightly browned. Next, you’ll make your lemon curd by whisking together eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour.

“These are really lemony lemon bars,” Garten said. “They have lots of lemon juice, lots of zest in them. Great flavor.”

When everything is mixed together, pour the curd on top of the crust and then bake the entire thing for about a half hour or until the curd is set. Then, once cooled, dust the top of the curd with powdered sugar, cut into squares, and serve!

These bars are sweet, zesty, and so summery, meaning they’re the perfect treat to enjoy before fall hits. Check out the full recipe and make them to celebrate summer while you still can!

Before you go, check out the gallery below: