Would you like to know how to freeze lemon bars? If your answer is yes, you’ll be happy to know that it’s super easy! Freezing lemon bars helps to extend their life, so you always have a delicious treat on hand.
And it’s a simple process that helps you provide sweet treats whenever you want on hot summer days or any other time of the year.
Keep in mind that even the best lemon bars can lose some of their flavor if not frozen properly. I’ve done this before, so I decided not to let that happen again.
I asked around to find out if it made sense to freeze them. The first person I went to was an older woman (actually about the same age I am now). I figured she’d know, and I was right.
She shared a bunch of her tips and tricks to make all kinds of food last longer. After all, she’d grown up during the Depression, and her family couldn’t afford to waste food.
The good news is that it doesn’t take a long time to follow the simple process to retain the quality and taste of your favorite classic lemon bars.
This easy lemon bars recipe is our favorite. It’s absolutely delicious, and it’s one of the easiest lemon bar recipes I’ve ever used. I like that I can find the ingredients in local grocery stores and I don’t have to run around looking for difficult-to-find ingredients
If you’re careful and use parchment paper when you bake them, even cleanup is super simple. So you can enjoy the flavor of what we consider perfect lemon bars without too much effort, either on the front end or the back end.
Freezing Homemade Lemon Bars
One of our favorite recipes is for these homemade lemon bars. They deliver the perfect blend of sweet and tart. And they are also a wonderful comfort food!
If you learn these simple steps on how to freeze lemon bars, you can do the same thing with other delicious treats. I have some of them listed toward the bottom of this post.
Cool the Lemon Bars
Have a cooling rack ready. Right after you take the lemon bars out of the oven, put the pan on the rack so the air can circulate around it. For the best results, let the lemon bars cool completely so they don’t fall apart. They need to be room temperature before you take the next step.
Cut Them
Next, cut the cooled bars into squares or rectangles. I like to use a sharp knife because you get a more even cut along the edges.
Set aside the lemon bars that you’ll want to enjoy for the next couple of days. You can leave them out on the counter for.a day, but after that, they should be refrigerated.
Wrap the Lemon Bars
Based on my experience, the best thing to do is wrap each bar in plastic wrap or wax paper. That way, you’ll have individual servings when you want them.
Freeze the Lemon Bars
This next step isn’t necessary, but I like to do it to maintain the shape of the bars. Put the wrapped bars on a baking sheet in a single layer before you put it in the freezer.
Transfer to Airtight Container
After a couple of hours, the bars should be frozen. Now put all of them in an airtight container, freezer bag, or aluminum foil.
A freezer-safe container prevents them from getting freezer burn. It doesn’t allow excess air to get to the bars, causing ice crystals to form and alter then texture or taste.
Label the Container
I use a Sharpie pen to label the container. Put the name of what’s inside, “Lemon Bars” and the date.
You can also add an “expiration date” at the end of 3 months to make sure you eat them before they go bad. That way you won’t have worry and wonder if they’re still good.
Put Bars in Freezer
Now it’s time to put the container of frozen lemon bars back in the freezer. So next time you want a delicious dessert, you can grab as many of the leftover lemon bars as you want.
How to Thaw Lemon Bars
Here is the best way to thaw the lemon bars. First, remove them from the freezer. And then allow them to sit out at room temperature for at least half an hour before serving.
Or take them out the night before you want to serve them and put them in the refrigerator. This is what I usually do.
Here are the basic steps for thawing:
Remove however many lemon bars you want from the freezer.
Take off their individual wrappers and place them on a plate.
Loosely cover them with plastic wrap to keep too much moisture from getting in.
Either thaw them at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator overnight.
After they are completely thawed, remove the plastic wrap and enjoy.
After you thaw the lemon bars, you need to eat them within 3 or 4 days. They’re so yummy that this shouldn’t be difficult.
*Note: Don’t put them in the microwave to thaw. Doing so can cause them to get limp and rubbery.
Simple Ways to Freshen Up Lemon Bars
Now that you know how to freeze lemon bars, it’s time to think about making them just as good as they were after they were fresh out of the oven.
Try one or more of these things:
Grate some lemon zest over them.
Squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon juice on the bars and then add some lemon zest for a full lemon experience.
Sprinkle some confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar) on the top of each serving.
Add some whipped cream and sprinkle graham cracker crust crumbs on top of the bar.
Slice some large lemons to garnish the lemon squares on each plate.
Put some colorful berries or other fruit on the plate to add color.
More Delicious Bars to Freeze
If you enjoy a variety of dessert bars, then make a batch. Eat what you can and freeze the rest for another day!
Here are more bars that you can freeze:
Oatmeal Strawberry Jam Bars – Whether it’s time for breakfast or your afternoon snack, these delicious treats will hit the spot!
Peanut Butter Fudge Bars – Peanut butter and fudge in one bar? Yes, please! This tried-and-true combination comes through with all the flavor you expect!
Apple Raisin Oat Bars – Here is another yummy bar that you can enjoy any time of day, including breakfast.
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars – Peanut butter lovers will go nuts over these delicious bars! Both kids and adults are sure to enjoy these!
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars – Now you don’t have to choose between pecan pie and cheesecake. You can have both in these delicious bars from Back to My Southern Roots.
Gooey Chocolate Chex Bars – Any time I hear the words “gooey” and “chocolate” in the same sentence, I’m all in. These bars are wonderful and so satisfying!
Pumpkin Bars – Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any other special occasion calls for pumpkin bars.
No-Bake Caramel Crunch Bars – Save time in the kitchen by making these delicious no-bake caramel crunch bars. You’ll have to ration yourself, though, so pull out what you want for a day or two and freeze the rest.
Conclusion
The great thing about freezing lemon bars is that you will always have the perfect summer dessert at the ready. There’s nothing to keep you from extending the season and enjoy a lemony treat year-round.
The only thing wrong with always having delicious lemon bars in the freezer is … knowing that they’re there. But go ahead and give in to the temptation to enjoy them when you want.