• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chisel & Fork logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You Are Here: Home → Desserts

    Strawberry Lemon Bars

    July 23, 2019 | Updated September 22, 2020 by Ryan 5 Comments

    1379 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    With a buttery crust, a tart lemon filling and strawberry jam mixed throughout, these strawberry lemon bars are kicked up a notch.

    strawberry lemon bars on dish towel

    So we recently went over to a friend's house for dinner and while it was fantastic, the surprise that my wife and I remembered were some lemon bars with fresh strawberries. After we left the house, we turned to each other and both shocked at how much we liked them.

    I'm not usually a fan of lemon in dessert and Lauren had them in the past and never liked them. I guess tastebuds really do change though.

    So we immediately set out to make our own version with these strawberry lemon bars. We thought instead of having strawberries on the side, why not use some strawberry jam and just add dollops throughout the bars. It didn't hurt that we had homemade strawberry jam that is quite addicting.

    What is crazy is how easy lemon bars are to make. There really isn't much worked involved, but with the fresh lemon juice, it is packed with flavor - tart flavor that is. Which is why I like the addition of the strawberry jam which gives it some added sweetness.

    Now I may be new to the lemon bar train, but these may just be the best lemon bars out there. So if you want to mix it up, give these tasty bars a try!

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • There are Air Bubbles in the Lemon Bars
    • How Much Juice is in One Lemon?
    • Can I Use a Different Jam?
    • Do I Need to Refrigerate Lemon Bars?
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Dessert Recipes
    • Strawberry Lemon Bars
    3 strawberry lemon bars stacked on top of each other

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Unsalted butter - helps create a nice melt-in your mouth texture for the crust.
    • Granulated sugar - adds sweetness.
    • Vanilla extract and salt - enhances the flavor.
    • All-purpose flour - used for crust base.
    • Eggs - helps create the curd.
    • Lemons - use both fresh lemon juice and zest.
    • Strawberry jam - homemade or store-bought works.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. Beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
    2. With mixer on low, add the flour and mix until just combined.
    3. Line a 9x13 glass baking dish with parchment paper. Press the dough firmly into the dish, building up a ½ inch edge around all sides.
    4. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned.
    5. While the crust is baking, sift together the flour and sugar in a large bowl.
    6. Add the eggs, lemon juice and lemon zest and whisk until everything is combined.
    7. Pour the filling over the warm crust and add dollops of strawberry jam throughout.
    8. Bake for 22-26 minutes or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles. Allow to cool at room temperature for 2 hours before placing in fridge to cool for another hour. Cut into small squares and top with powdered sugar.
    process shots of how to make strawberry lemon bars

    There are Air Bubbles in the Lemon Bars

    It can happen and actually occurred in my batch here. It is completely normal and occurs when eggs baking rise to the surface. Good thing is it doesn't affect the flavor and you cover it up when you dust powdered sugar on them.

    How Much Juice is in One Lemon?

    On average, 1 lemon produces 2 tablespoon lemon juice.

    Can I Use a Different Jam?

    Of course. You can use any jam you'd like that you think goes with lemon. Blueberry, raspberry or triple berry jams all come to mind.

    Do I Need to Refrigerate Lemon Bars?

    Because lemon bars are basically a custard, they should be refrigerated if they are not going to be served the same day, or if you need to store leftovers. However, they are fine to keep out at room temperature for a number of hours if serving at a party. If keeping in the fridge, they will last about 4 days. You can also place in freezer for up to 3 months.

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • Pre-bake Crust: The crust needs to be pre-baked before adding the lemon curt so it forms a texture and doesn't get soggy.
    • Use Glass Pan: Glass pans work best for lemon bars, but you can use ceramic in a pinch. However do not use metal pans as you'll get a slightly metallic taste in the bars.
    • Use Fresh Juice: While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn't that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lemons and you'll notice a difference in flavor.
    • Allow Cooling Time: In order for these lemon bars to set, you need to allow them to cool at room temperature for 2 hours before placing in the fridge for another 2 hours.
    strawberry lemon bars stacked on top of each other on dish towel

    Other Dessert Recipes

    • Congo Squares
    • Orange Pistachio Biscotti
    • Jam Bars
    • Lemon Blueberry Breakfast Cookies
    • Lemon Meringue Pie

    If you’ve tried these strawberry lemon bars or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    strawberry lemon bars stacked on top of each other on dish towel
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Strawberry Lemon Bars

    With a buttery crust, a tart lemon filling and strawberry jam mixed throughout, these lemon bars are kicked up a notch.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Cooling Time3 hrs
    Total Time3 hrs 50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 bars
    Calories: 235kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    Crust

    • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (2 sticks)
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour

    Strawberry Lemon Filling

    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 6 large eggs, at room temperature
    • 1 cup lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
    • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
    • ½ cup strawberry jam
    • powdered sugar for topping

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • For the crust, cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla extract and salt until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, add the flour and mix until just combined.
    • Line a 9x13 glass or ceramic baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift out the finished bars. Press the dough firmly into the pan, building up a ½ inch edge on all sides. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
    • For the filling, sift together the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, lemon juice and lemon zest and whisk until completely combined.
    • Pour the filling over the warm crust. Using a spoon, drop strawberry jam through the filling. Bake for 22-26 minutes or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles. Allow to cool at room temperature for 2 hours and then place in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
    • Once chilled, lift the bars out of the pan with the parchment paper. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares.

    Notes

    • Pre-bake Crust: The crust needs to be pre-baked before adding the lemon curt so it forms a texture and doesn't get soggy.
    • Use Glass Pan: Glass pans work best for lemon bars, but you can use ceramic in a pinch. However do not use metal pans as you'll get a slightly metallic taste in the bars.
    • Use Fresh Juice: While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn't that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lemons and you'll notice a difference in flavor.
    • Allow Cooling Time: In order for these strawberry lemon bars to set, you need to allow them to cool at room temperature for 2 hours before placing in the fridge for another 2 hours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
    « Farmhouse Desk
    Banana Baked Oatmeal »
    1379 shares

    Receive Top 25 Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      July 24, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      Geez you continue to step up your game!

      Reply
    2. Lisa says

      May 08, 2022 at 7:11 pm

      5 stars
      Amazinig! To increase the tartness, I used a lemon glaze. Loved the results! Thank you

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        May 08, 2022 at 8:49 pm

        Glad you enjoyed.

        Reply
    3. Christine says

      July 02, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      Can you use fresh strawberries or does it need to be a jam?

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        July 02, 2022 at 3:37 pm

        Freshly chopped strawberries works.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Chisel & Fork

    ryan standing in kitchen

    Hey there! Welcome to Chisel & Fork, a blog with tasty recipes and DIY projects. I'm Ryan and here you'll find hundreds of recipes ranging from true comfort food to vegan. Oh and if you like woodworking, you might just find your next inspiration. Read More About Chisel & Fork…

    Get Your Free Copy of My Top 25 Most Popular Recipes

    title page of ecookbook

    Healthy Recipes

    • Cinnamon Overnight Oats
      Cook Time5 Minutes
    • Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
      Cook Time1 Hours 10 Minutes
    • Peanut Butter Energy Balls
      Cook Time25 Minutes
    • Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad
      Cook Time1 Hours

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Cheddar Mac and Cheese
      Cook Time40 Minutes
    • Cranberry Mimosa
      Cook Time5 Minutes
    • Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
      Cook Time1 Hours 40 Minutes
    • Chocolate Chip Scones
      Cook Time35 Minutes

    Featured In

    logos of places where Chisel & Fork has been featured

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Information

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Recipes
    • DIY

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Chisel & Fork

    1379 shares