Easy Sourdough Lemon Bars
These easy sourdough lemon bars are the perfect simple lemon dessert! Sweet, tangy, and a great way to use sourdough discard — perfect for a crowd or a fun baking day with kids
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup sourdough starter discard or unfed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
For the Filling
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup sourdough starter discard or unfed
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper or coat it with non-stick spray for easy cleanup.
- In a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar on low.
- Add in the sourdough starter, vanilla, and salt. Mix until smooth.
- Slowly mix in the flour until a soft dough forms. Don’t forget to scrape the sides!
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 20-22 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown.
For the Filling
- In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, sourdough starter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt.
- Once the crust is out of the oven, pour the filling directly over the warm crust.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325°F and return the pan to bake for another 20-30 minutes or until the filling is set and edges are golden.
- Let the bars cool to room temperature, then chill in the fridge until you’re ready to slice and serve.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving for that classic lemon bar finish!