I love lemon flavored anything. Do most people or is this a polarizing opinion?

I honestly have no clue. But to me, there’s something so satisfying and refreshing about lemon.

Growing up, I used to love lemonade on a hot summer day. It was my go to drink during a pool day.

Now, I appreciate lemon-flavored anything. It’s such a fun way to satisfy a sweet tooth in a way that feels bright and refreshing.

These Easy Lemon Bars are no exception.

The bars are a little more wholesome than your typical dessert. They’re made with oat flour as the base, which adds a nice boost of fiber.

For sweetness, they use maple syrup. And don’t be fooled by well-meaning influencers, maple syrup is absolutely still sugar. It’s considered an unrefined sugar. But sugar is sugar in the body 🙂

The filling of these Easy Lemon Bars is a simple mix of lemon juice, eggs, and more maple syrup. The result is something truly so simple but so delicious.

I highly recommend topping them with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Not only does it look so pretty, but it also contrasts the sour lemon with a little extra sweetness.

These lemon bars are perfect to enjoy as the weather gets warmer and you want something sweet. Enjoy them cold and they’re a refreshing way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but I truly can’t say it enough: the best way to satisfy a sweet tooth is to allow yourself to mindfully enjoy sweets.

When you’re looking for something on warm spring and summer days to satisfy your sweet tooth – or to bring over to friends – these Easy Lemon Bars are seriously the best.

Prep ingredients

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a small baking dish with parchment paper.

Prepare the crust

In a medium bowl, add all of the ingredients for the crust with a pinch of salt. Mix well until combined.

Bake the crust

Pour the mixture into the lined baking dish, spreading it evenly throughout (it’s easiest to use your hands to gently press the crust down and make sure it’s evenly distributed).

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Prepare the filling

While the crust is in the oven, prepare the filling. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, maple syrup, eggs, and a pinch of salt to a large bowl. Whisk well until mixture is completely combined, making sure no whites of the eggs are visible.

Bake the filling

When the crust comes out of the oven, pour the filling mixture on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Cool and chill

Let the pan cool until it reaches room temperature. Once at room temperature, place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Garnish

Top with powdered sugar and thinly sliced lemon.

Cut & serve

Cut into 8 bars and serve.

Notes

Oat flour: I love baking with oat flour. The little fiber boost it adds never hurts either 🙂 To make oat flour, add oats to a food process and process until it’s very fine.
Coconut oil: Oil acts as a binder for the crust. Instead of coconut oil, you can also use melted butter.
Maple syrup: This also acts as a binder and adds some sweetness.
Lemon juice: Because lemons are the star of this bar, I highly recommend using fresh lemons instead of pre-juiced lemon juice. This citrus squeezer is my favorite – it makes squeezes all those lemons as easy and quick as possible.
Eggs: Eggs are crucial for the filling of these bars. I do not recommend swapping for a flax egg.
Cooking tips: When making the filling, make sure to whisk really well so that no whites of the egg can be seen. You might even find it helpful to blend everything for a few seconds in a small blender or use an electric mixer.
Baking dish: I used this small baking dish to make these bars. It’s probably my most used baking dish! Having this size in your kitchen is a must.
Storage: Store these lemon bars in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American