The Greatest Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe

Prep Time : 15 minutes

Prepare dinner Time : 40 minutes

Whip up these gluten free lemon bars for spring, summer time, or any time you crave the brilliant style of citrus. These gf lemon bars are so contemporary and tart.

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A easy lemony shortbread crust with a tart, refreshing lemon custard, these gluten free lemon bars are really easy to make. Excellent for any event, from potlucks to bake gross sales. 

What makes this recipe for gluten free lemon bars so particular

Easy, creamy and tart basic gluten free lemon bars appear to be beloved by almost everybody. In the event you don’t love them, or something lemon flavored, then this recipe is not going to be for you!

However should you’re a lemon lover (and in case you are, then you need to attempt our lemon pound cake and our lemon meltaway cookies), you’ll love these bars. The crust is the right mix of chewy and crunchy, and the custard is lemony cool and contemporary. 

Gluten free lemon bar components

Lemons could also be the very first thing you consider while you consider these bars, however let’s speak about one other crucial ingredient: the gluten free flour mix.

The suitable gluten free flour mix for these gf lemon bars

I do specify my gum-free gluten free flour mix for this recipe, which is made with a mixture of largely superfine white rice flour, plus potato starch and tapioca flour/starch. There isn’t any xanthan gum on this recipe.

I’ve discovered that it makes for an virtually chewy, gummy filling. It’s not almost as vital for the crust as it’s for the filling.

You do want a scale to make the mix, however should you should buy a mix to make use of, I’d attempt utilizing Cup4Cup. It accommodates xanthan gum, however lower than Higher Batter, and is a really gentle, starchy mix.

Extra gf lemon bar ingredient notes

Together with gluten free flour, you’ll additionally want the next to make these simple gluten free lemon bars.

• Sugar – we use each granulated and powdered sugar within the crust and filling to stability out the tartness of the lemon and tenderize the crust
• Lemon juice – that is the star of the present, so use contemporary lemon should you can (extra on that under)
• Lemon zest – should you love the style of lemons, you’ll discover that nothing has that concentrated taste like lemon zest
• Butter – provides the buttery shortbread crust its richness and is a taste supply system!
• Eggs – eggs present the filling with its creamy construction

What does the filling in these gluten free lemon bars style like?

You’ll want at the least one contemporary lemon for the lemon zest so your crust, not simply your filling, is pucker-worthy. These lemon bars are no joke. You’ll by no means confuse them with some other taste. I consider the time period is ROBUST.

In the event you’ve ever had lemon curd, which has similarities to a lemon pudding or custard, this filling will style comparable. Not like lemon curd, although, the filling in these bars is baked, not cooked. Will probably be agency sufficient to chunk into as soon as it’s set within the fridge. 

Easy methods to make these gluten free lemon squares

To make these bars, you need to place the pan within the oven twice. I promise it’s not a giant deal, although.

The crust is a comparatively sticky dough that’s made with our primary gum-free gluten free flour, confectioners’ sugar (to maintain it gentle), lemon zest, salt, and melted butter. Simply press it into the pan with an offset spatula (or a spoon or tamper) and bake it simply till it’s set. 

There’s no leavening within the crust, so it received’t rise very a lot in any respect. Baking it alone prevents it from getting soggy while you add the filling, and from having to overbake the filling simply to get the crust agency sufficient to carry it.

Because the crust is cooling, make the filling by whisking eggs, granulated sugar, baking powder and lemon juice. Pour the filling proper on prime of the blind-baked crust and pop it again within the oven to bake till the filling barely jiggles when it’s shaken backward and forward.

Because the filling is baking, should you peek within the oven (not advisable, however should you can’t assist it) earlier than the final 7 or 8 minutes, you’ll suppose that the bars won’t ever really set. It’ll appear virtually like a liquid for many of the baking time. So long as you haven’t modified the recipe and your oven is on the correct temperature, it will set.

Ideas for making the very best gluten free lemons bars

Measure your gluten free flour mix fastidiously

Correctly measuring gluten free flour is extraordinarily vital in any recipe, however it’s particularly so in one which has a easy, custard-y filling like this one.

The error that many individuals make is scooping flour straight from the bag or jar. You may suppose that simply because the gluten free flour hits the one-cup line, you’ve acquired one cup.

However right here’s the factor: Once you scoop and drag, you compress the flour into the measuring cup. This implies you’ll find yourself with extra gluten free flour than you want. Plus, cup sizes are usually not customary, so my model of cup is likely to be roughly than your model of cup. 

The one dependable solution to measure out flour, or virtually any dry ingredient, precisely is to make use of a kitchen scale. This gluten free lemon bar recipe requires 233 grams of flour, so put the measuring cup on the size, zero it out, after which add flour by the spoonful till you hit 223 grams.

Promise you’ll use freshly squeezed lemon juice in your gf lemon bars?

Standard lemons can be found year-round, however we do are inclined to get the very best ones within the lifeless of winter. A little bit sunshine for an general dreary season, I assume!

Meyer Lemons, that are considered a cross between oranges and lemons, aren’t accessible year-round. They appear to be most plentiful within the center winter by means of the very early spring (why do I all the time wish to capitalize ‘spring’ however depart winter as is?)

All that is to say … there’s actually simply no excuse for utilizing bottled lemon juice. I’ll by no means have the ability to develop my very own lemons, however I’ll bake with them without end and ever as a result of lemon-flavored issues are virtually as universally beloved as chocolate-flavored issues. 

I vow by no means to make use of bottled lemon juice in baking (or in any other case for that matter). Baking and cooking imply making use of warmth, and warmth intensifies flavors. If the flavour isn’t nice initially, simply wait till you bake with it.

Don’t overlook the parchment paper!

These gluten free lemon bars are usually not going to be tremendous agency while you pull them from the oven. Even after you allow them to cool and refrigerate them, you’ll nonetheless discover the lemon filling to be on the smooth facet.

Because of this, it’s crucial that you simply don’t overlook to make use of parchment paper when getting ready your baking pan. Parchment paper will make clear up simpler by making a barrier between the lemon bars and the pan, however extra importantly, the paper provides you with the help you have to raise the squares from the pan in a single piece.

Give your gluten free lemon squares time to arrange

We’ll be straight with you: It’s going to be arduous to withstand this unbelievable gluten free lemon dessert as soon as it’s out of the oven. The temptation to chop out a tiny bar for just a little style will probably be nice. Please, attempt to withstand.

As beforehand defined, the lemon filling of those bars is just like lemon curd — however provided that you permit it sufficient time to set within the fridge. In the event you attempt to chunk into these earlier than they’ve had time to relax, they received’t have the best chunk.

Storing leftover gf lemon bars

In the event you plan to eat all of your gluten free lemon squares on the identical day, it’s completely high-quality to depart them out at room temperature in your kitchen counter (after letting them chill for a few hours to allow them to set.)

However should you’re planning to take pleasure in them for the remainder of the week, you must positively retailer them within the fridge in an air-tight container. It is because the smooth lemon filling received’t stand as much as larger temps.

Are you able to freeze lemon bars?

Sure, you’ll be able to completely freeze lemon bars to take pleasure in later.

To begin, let your lemon bars cool utterly. Minimize them into squares, however don’t prime them with powdered sugar or some other topping.

Then, stick them within the freezer for about an hour to allow them to actually agency up, after which wrap every bar individually with cling wrap. Then, retailer them within the freezer.

Your bars will keep good on ice for as much as three months, and received’t freeze stable, so that you received’t need to defrost them for lengthy. You possibly can simply switch your lemon bars to the fridge and allow them to sit till they’re at your required temperature and texture. Earlier than serving, add your powdered sugar, whipped cream, or no matter topping you want.

Gluten free lemon bars: Elements and substitutions

There are dairy, eggs, and two varieties of sugar in these decadent lemon bars. I don’t remorse any a type of components, however should you can’t have considered one of them, right here’s what I’m considering:

Gluten free dairy free lemon bars

The one supply of dairy in these bars is the butter within the crust. That’s excellent news should you’re dairy-free. The crust ought to nonetheless end up should you exchange the butter with half Earth Stability buttery sticks and half Spectrum model nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening.

You may also use Soften Vegan Butter or Miyoko’s Kitchen Vegan Butter rather than the butter completely. Watch the salt, although, since butter replacements are typically fairly salty (in contrast to shortening, which accommodates no salt).

Are you able to make this recipe for gluten free lemon bars egg-free?

There are 4 eggs on this recipe. I’m afraid I don’t consider that you may exchange all 4 of them with an egg substitute and obtain something like the feel of those easy, creamy custardy bars. So sorry!

Gluten free, vegan lemon bars

Sadly, I don’t suppose there’s sufficient give on this gluten free lemon bar recipe to make them vegan — primarily as a result of egg difficulty described above.

Sugar-free gluten free lemon bars

The confectioners’ sugar ought to have the ability to get replaced with Swerve model powdered sugar alternative. That tends to work fairly nicely. You possibly can attempt changing the granulated sugar with Swerve model granulated sugar substitute or Lankato monkfruit granulated sweetener.

Sugar replacements are typically drying, although, so you could have so as to add some moisture to the filling. Attempt one other tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Gluten free lemon bars…with out lemon?

Because you’ve already promised to make use of freshly squeezed citrus on this recipe, we don’t need to revisit that time. In the event you’d favor a lime-flavored bar, attempt my key lime pie bars. They’re comparable in texture, and easily superb. 

Extra gluten free lemon dessert recipes

Have you ever acquired a giant bag lemons sitting on the counter? Questioning what to do with the remainder of them? Let me assist! Listed below are a number of extra of my favourite gluten free lemon dessert recipes.

• Gluten Free Lemon Cookies – Buttery-rich and light-weight, these pleasant lemon cookies soften in your mouth — critically! And so they couldn’t be simpler to arrange, requiring solely quarter-hour of prep time.
• Gluten Free Lemon Brownies – I really like chocolate as a lot as the subsequent particular person, however generally I crave one thing totally different. These lemon brownies supply the chewy consistency of a brownie with the brilliant taste of citrus.
• Gluten Free Lemon Cake – In the event you’ve ever had the lemon cake at Olive Backyard, you recognize it’s the stuff that desires are product of. Attempt my copycat recipe, and you’ll chow down on this cake everytime you need.

FAQs

Are lemons gluten free?

Rejoice! Lemons are naturally gluten free, so should you decide the contemporary stuff from the grocery retailer, you’re good to go.

Can’t get contemporary lemons? Don’t fret. Many bottled lemon juices are additionally gluten free as they don’t include any gluten-containing components. However as all the time, play it protected by double-checking product labels before you purchase—and check out actually arduous to get contemporary lemons since they simply style means higher!

Are lemon bars gluten free?

Whereas lemons are gluten free, most prepackaged lemon squares are usually not. It is because they’re typically made with wheat flour, each within the crust and the custard filling.

However while you use my gluten free lemon bar recipe, you’ll benefit from the easy, creamy style you keep in mind, with not one of the gluten.

How a lot juice is in a lemon?

One standard-size lemon holds about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Our gluten free lemon bar recipe requires 2/3 cup of juice (or simply over 10 tablespoons), so that you’ll want 4 to five lemons to get there.

Are these flourless lemon bars?

Whereas these lemon bars are gluten free, they’re not technically flourless… at the least, not by my requirements.

I don’t prefer to label any recipe that makes use of a gluten free flours as flourless, however I can guarantee you that this one is wheat-free.

Can I make gluten free lemon bars with almond flour?

You should use almond flour to make a crust on your lemon bars, however it’s going to return out fairly otherwise than the shortbread crust I take advantage of.

As a result of almonds are excessive in fats, baked items utilizing almond flour have a tendency to return out extra cakey than crispy. In the event you don’t thoughts this consistency, give it a attempt!

Can I make gluten free lemon bars with a graham cracker crust?

Sure, you can also make these lemon squares with a graham cracker crust should you’d like. Simply comply with my gluten free graham cracker crust recipe, which makes use of my do-it-yourself graham crackers.

Why is my gluten free lemon bar combine gooey?

There are a number of the reason why your gf lemon squares could also be gooey:

• You didn’t use the best ratio of components — you could have used too little gf flour or too few eggs; you could have additionally added an excessive amount of lemon juice.
• You didn’t bake the bars lengthy sufficient — pop them again within the oven and bake till the lemon custard barely jiggles while you shake the pan; the filling ought to transfer in a managed means while you shake the pan.
• You didn’t let your bars set — letting your lemon squares arrange within the fridge is a crucial step. In the event you skip it, the bars received’t agency up.

Why are there bubbles on the tops of my grain free lemon bars?

Bubbles on the tops of your gluten free lemon squares sometimes come from escaping air as your bars bake. Consider it or not, the air sometimes comes eggs, which is why you may additionally see a little bit of a white solid in your bars.

Don’t fear should you see both — they don’t have an effect on the style of the gf bars in any means, and also you’ll cowl them up should you prime with powdered sugar.

How are you aware when this gluten free lemon dessert is finished baking?

One of the best ways to inform whether or not these simple gluten free lemon bars are finished baking is to present them just a little shake. Carrying oven mitts, wiggle the baking pan, keeping track of the lemon filling.

If the filling is free, proceed baking. If the filling barely jiggles and form of shimmies backward and forward, your bars are finished. If the filling doesn’t transfer in any respect, you’ve in all probability overcooked your bars.

Do I must refrigerate my gluten free lemon squares?

Whereas it’s not strictly essential to refrigerate lemon squares should you’re going to complete them inside a number of hours, you must positively retailer them within the fridge for any longer than that.

When uncovered to heat temperatures, the lemon curd filling will “soften” barely and received’t style almost pretty much as good as when it’s chilled.

How lengthy will gluten free lemon bars final?

Once you retailer them within the fridge, gf lemon bars will typically final 4 to five days. If you have to retailer them longer, as much as 3 months, pop them into the freezer as a substitute.

Easy methods to make gluten free lemon bars, step-by-step