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Home » Baking & Desserts » Cookies & Bars

Lemon Bars

Jun 20, 2025 by Andi Anne · Leave a Comment

A stack of lemon bars on a plate.

These easy lemon bars are tangy, sweet, and made with a soda cracker crust—perfect for a quick treat using simple pantry staples. 👇👇

A stack of lemon bars with a soda cracker crust on a plate.

Why I Love This Recipe

These lemon bars are a fun twist on the classic—no eggs, no lemon zest, no complicated steps. Just pantry ingredients and a can of lemon pie filling. The soda cracker crust creates a buttery crumble that pairs perfectly with the tangy lemon layer.

  • Shortcut lemon bars – no zesting or juicing needed
  • Pantry-friendly – soda crackers, coconut, flour, and canned filling
  • Great texture – buttery crumb, chewy coconut, and smooth lemon
  • Perfect for sharing – slice into squares and bring to any gathering

If you love lemon desserts, try my Lemon Brownies or Lemon Coconut Squares next.

Next up – Recipe ingredients are below 👇👇

The ingredients to make lemon bars are in small individual bowls.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this easy lemon dessert:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ cups crushed soda crackers (about 1 sleeve)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup shredded coconut – sweetened or unsweetened both work
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 can lemon pie filling (21 oz)

Step-By-Step Instructions 👇👇

A square baking pan is sprayed with non-stick spray, a bowl of melted butter, a bowl of soda crackers, and then a bowl of crushed soda crackers.

STEP 1: Prep the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray or butter.

STEP 2: Melt the Butter

In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt ¾ cup unsalted butter and set aside to cool slightly.

STEP 3: Crush the Crackers

Crush 1 sleeve of soda crackers into small crumbles—either in a bowl with a wooden spoon or in a zip-top bag using a rolling pin.

Tip: Don’t crush too fine—you want some texture in the crumb.

Flour, sugar, coconut, and crackers are mixed in a large white bowl, then the melted butter is added, and then the ingredients are mixed together.

STEP 4: Make the Crust Mixture

In a large bowl, stir together: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 ¾ cups crushed soda crackers, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup shredded coconut, and 1 tsp baking powder.

Pour in the melted butter and mix until crumbly and fully combined.

The mixture is poured into the baking pan and firmly pressed down, lemon pie filling is poured onto the crust, and then spread with a spatula.

STEP 5: Assemble the Layers

Press ¾ of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the greased baking pan.

Gently spread the lemon pie filling on top into an even layer with a spatula.

The remaining quarter of the crust mixture is sprinkled over the lemon filling.

STEP 6: Add Topping and Bake

Sprinkle the remaining ¼ of the crumb mixture over the lemon layer.

Lightly press it down so it sticks.

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are set.

STEP 7: Cool and Slice

Let the bars cool completely in the pan—this helps them firm up for clean slices.

Slice into squares or bars and serve!

A slice is removed from the pan of lemon bars with two forks, and two lemon slices are placed on top.

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t crush the crackers too finely—leave some texture for the best crumb.
  • Press the base firmly into the pan to help it hold together.
  • Cool completely before slicing, or they’ll be too soft.
  • These taste even better the next day, once fully chilled.

Looking for a bright, citrusy loaf cake instead? Try my Lemon Poppyseed Loaf Cake—it’s soft, zesty, and perfect with tea.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Use graham crackers – for a slightly sweeter crust.
  • Try lime or berry pie filling for a twist.
  • No coconut? – Leave it out or use finely chopped pecans.
  • Dairy-free option – Use vegan butter or coconut oil in place of butter.

How to Store

  • Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze bars between layers of parchment in a container for up to 2 months.
  • To Serve: Let thaw at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
A slice of lemon bar is served on a plate with a dollop of yogurt.

FAQs

Can I use homemade lemon curd instead of pie filling?

Yes! Use about 1¾ cups of thick lemon curd in place of canned pie filling.

Can I use unsweetened coconut?

Yes—unsweetened or sweetened both work. Sweetened coconut makes the bars chewier and more dessert-like.

Can I double the recipe for a 9×13-inch pan?

Absolutely! Just double all ingredients and bake for 35–40 minutes.

More Easy Lemon Desserts

  • Magic Lemon Cobbler – warm, gooey, and truly magical
  • Lemon Brownies – soft, chewy, and topped with glaze
  • Lemon Coconut Squares – crumbly and rich with a sweet-tart bite
  • Lemon Poppyseed Loaf Cake – soft and zesty with a bright lemon glaze
  • Homemade Lemonade – refreshing and simple, just three ingredients

A stack of lemon bars on a plate.

Lemon Bars with Soda Cracker Crust

These lemon bars are made with crushed soda crackers, coconut, and lemon pie filling—an easy pantry dessert with tangy flavor and buttery crumb.
Save Recipe!Saved! Pin This Print
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ cups crushed soda crackers - about 1 sleeve
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup shredded coconut
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter - melted
  • 1 can lemon pie filling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
  • Melt butter and set aside.
  • Crush soda crackers into small crumbles.
  • In a large bowl, mix flour, crushed crackers, sugar, coconut, and baking powder.
  • Add melted butter and stir to form a crumbly mixture.
  • Press ¾ of mixture into pan to form base.
  • Spread lemon pie filling evenly over crust.
  • Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top and pat down gently.
  • Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Recipe Notes:

  • Don’t over-crush crackers—leave some texture.
  • Press the crust firmly for a solid base.
  • Cool fully before slicing for clean cuts.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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Welcome, I'm Andi!

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