These gluten free lemon bars will impress even the most skeptical folks in your crowd. Seriously delicious! And they’ll be seriously gone, so you’d better double the recipe!
I don’t know what it is about this easy little treat — maybe the mystery is in its simplicity — but they are universally loved and bring a smile to anyone’s face as they savor the subtle tart/sweetness that is so perfectly blended in a gluten free lemon bar. There’s just no reason not to be able to still enjoy that simple pleasure, gluten free.
Like anything else, the key is in the ingredients. If you use gritty rice flour or funky bean flours, for example, these creamy lemon bars will never bring the delight they ought to.
Use high quality, smooth and light gluten free flours, as in my gfJules™ flour blend. You’ll never look back once your recipes are this delicious!
Gluten Free Lime Bars
Oh, and how pretty are these GREEN lime bars?? Think St. Patrick’s Day or Earth Day or any day you want to add a pop of yummy green to your menu. Equally delicious either way.
Use lemons or limes, and even add a drop of food coloring to make these the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day!
Gluten Free Cherry Bars
Or here’s another fun twist: gluten free CHERRY bars! For Valentine’s Day, these are a great way to celebrate!
In place of the lemon juice, add tart cherry juice or cherry liqueur. In place of the lemon or lime zest, add a few diced, frozen cherries.
Reduce the cherry juice by 1 tablespoon if adding the diced cherries since they add their own liquid. You’ll probably also want to add a splash of food coloring to give the red some oomph!
Baking Tips for Gluten Free Lemon, Lime or Cherry Bars
A couple tips on making these treats. They’re super easy, but the first time you make the crust, you may think you’ve done something wrong because it’s very crumby.
Don’t worry! Once you press it into the bottom of the pan and then it bakes, you’ll be good to go! (line the pan with parchment paper for even easier removal and clean-up!)
To recap:
This is how the crust should look when you’re done mixing it. Do not over-mix it!
Then press it into the bottom of an un-oiled or parchment-lined pan (photo below is of a doubled recipe):
The crust is akin to a shortbread cookie, so it should be on the buttery-dry side before baking.
After it bakes, the top will be a golden brown. That’s the way it’s supposed to be!
Once you sprinkle powdered sugar on top, they’ll look and taste like the gluten free lemon bars you were looking for!
Enjoy these springy treats anytime you need a little sunshine in your life!
Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe
Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe
These gluten free lemon bars will impress even the most skeptical folks in your crowd. Seriously delicious! And they'll be seriously gone, so you'd better double the recipe!
Ingredients
crust ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (5 1/3 Tbs.) butter or non-dairy alternative (e.g. Earth Balance Buttery Sticks®)
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated cane sugar
- 1 cup (135 grams) gfJules™ All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
filling ingredients
- 2 eggs (or egg substitute of choice, such as 1/2 cup extra firm tofu blended with 1 tsp. baking powder)
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated cane sugar
- 2 Tbs. (17 grams) gfJules™ All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
- 2 tsp. finely shredded lemon or lime zest (don't skip this ingredient if making lemon or lime bars!) OR 3 diced frozen cherries
- 3 Tbs. lemon juice or lime juice or cherry juice / liqueuer
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- food coloring, if desired (yellow or green)
- Powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
Crust Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º F.
In a medium bowl, beat butter with a mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/4 cup of sugar; beat until combined.
Beat in the 1 cup of gfJules™ flour until crumbly, being careful not to over-mix. Press mixture into the bottom of an un-oiled or parchment-lined 8x8x2 baking pan.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
Filling Directions:
Combine eggs, sugar, flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, and baking powder; beat 2 minutes or until thoroughly combined.
Pour filling over baked crust. Bake 20 minutes more or until set and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars only when completely cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, before serving.
Notes
This recipe doubles nicely when baked in a 9×13 pan.
*Note: if making cherry bars and using diced frozen cherries as well, reduce cherry juice to 2 Tbs.
Nutrition Information
Yield 20 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 70Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 19mgSodium 14mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 0gSugar 16gProtein 1g
Please keep in mind that nutrition information provided is per serving, which may vary. While we have taken care to provide you with the most accurate nutritional values possible, please note that this information may differ significantly depending on the exact ingredients and brands that you choose to use to make this recipe.
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I’ve “liked” your Facebook page, and absolutely LOVE your GF flour and pre-mixed products. I’ll be trying out the lemon bar recipe soon!
These look YUMMY! I’m gonna have to make them soon.
We love anything lemon and these are the best!!!!
I just ‘liked’ you on Facebook!
I love your flour and look forward to many more tips and recipes on your facebook page now too!
Ok so after watching your emails for so long I have now “liked” your facebook page. :-)~ Have a great weekend…
Hi Jules! I liked you on FB and Lemon Bars are one of my absolute favorite treats in the whole wide world. I can’t wait to try yours, and hopefully I will be using that cool little zester when I do! I also really like lemon scones, but I have not had any since going gluten free. Would you happen to have a gluten and dairy free lemon scone recipe?
Jaye Tee – I have an amazingly versatile GF/DF scones recipe that would be amazing with some lemon zest & juice!! Here’s the SCONES recipe. Enjoy!
I LOVE lemon bars and haven’t had one since I went gluten-free, haven’t even attempted it because I didn’t want to be disappointed. Can’t wait to try this recipe, though. I always have great success with your flour. One of my other favorite lemon recipes is “universal” in that it’s homemade lemonade. There’s just nothing like it!
I liked you on Facebook. I’m not a huge lemon person, but a good lemon bar is very yummy. My mouth is watering a bit looking at the picture.
These bars are the best summertime treat (will put my other favourite – lemon loaf – aside for now). Would love to win one of those zesters. Thanks Jules for all your delicious recipes!
Tis the season for lemons! I made a double batch in the 9×13… they are great. now I am wondering what else that I can put on top of that crust
Been your friend on facebook for about a year now! Keep those lemony (and other) recipes coming! Any of the ones others have listed here will work great for me, too!
Liked you on FB…and I look forward to trying this version of one of my favorite snack bars!
I “like” you on facebook.
I liked you on facebook. My absolute favorite lemon treat is lemon bars. My hubby does not like them so when my daughter and I make a batch we eat them all!
I like you on Facebook – brand-new follower of your blog.
Liked you on facebook. I can’t wait to try these Lemon Bars. They look delicious!
OH that zester is cool and I’ve always failed when it came to lemon bars. I can’t wait to try these. I just ordered more flour.
And you know what recipe I would LOVE for you to convert? A lemon pound cake. I tried and although it wasn’t “that” bad it wasn’t as great as the original either.
Have a great day! Oh and I also “like” you on FB!
Try pressing the crust into a tart pan and put the rest on top. Then cut pie slices topping with whipped cream. Viola! Lemon Tart. Pretty if you sprinkle a little toasted coconut on the whipped cream.
Hi Jules,
I already “like” you on Facebook and otherwise. I love almost anything lemony. Lemon curd is high on my list. Oooo, and lemon cookies! And, better yet, together. Yum! This looks like a clever little gadget. Would be interested in seeing it in action.
I liked you on Facebook, and would love to win a lemon grater to save my knuckles. My favorite old recipe is for a lemon pound cake. After baking, you make a lemon glaze. You poke lots of holes down into the loaf, then pour glaze in the holes and all over the loaf. Haven’t made it since I went GF, but may try it again. Marie