Lemon Squares
All-purpose flour, powdered sugar and margarine come together in this vegetarian — 65 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to 175 C / 350 F and line a 20 cm square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang for lifting.
- Rub together the 1 cup flour, the 1/4 cup powdered sugar and the softened margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then press it firmly and evenly into the base of the pan.
- Bake the crust for 18 to 20 minutes until pale golden at the edges, then remove it but keep the oven on.
- Whisk the eggs with the white sugar until smooth, then beat in the lemon juice, the lemon peel, the 2 tablespoons flour and the baking powder to make a thin filling.
- Pour the filling over the hot crust and return the pan to the oven for 20 to 22 minutes, until the centre is set and no longer wobbles.
- Cool the squares completely in the pan on a wire rack so the filling firms up fully.
- Lift out using the parchment, dust the top generously with powdered sugar, then cut into 16 squares with a clean knife and serve.
You'll use: Oven · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
Tips & common questions
How long does Lemon Squares take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 10 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of eggs?
Try ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Lemon Squares vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Lemon Squares is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Lemon Bar.jpg by Kjp001, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.