Step 1: Get Your Ingredients/Supplies

Every project needs its supplies or ingredients. For this one, you're going to need the following:

—1 cup softened butter (it can be salted or unsalted)

—1/2 cup white sugar

—2 cups all-purpose flour

—4 eggs

—1 1/2 cups white sugar

—1/4 cup all-purpose flour (yes, you will need the two servings of flour—you'll see why in the following directions)

—2 juiced lemons

—whisk (or any other mixing device)

—2 bowls

—a 9x13 inch ungreased pan (recommended size)

Step 2: Preheat the Oven

Almost every single baking project needs to eventually be baked. This one is no different. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). While your oven is heating, begin the baking process.

Step 3: Making the Crust

In a medium-sized bowl, blend the 2 cups flour, 1 cup softened butter, and 1/2 cup sugar together. Press the batter into the pan. Make sure it's even on all sides. This will be your crust.

Step 4: Put the Crust Into the Oven

Your oven should be heated by now, so put the pan into the oven for 15-20 minutes (or until a golden color). This is an easy part. My advice to you for this step is to try not to burn yourself. And double-check that the oven is set to 350°F.

Step 5: Begin the Lemon Filling

While it's cooking, get another bowl. Whisk together the 1/4 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups flour. Then, whisk the 4 eggs and lemon juice into that batter. Pour it over the baked crust (that you should've taken out already).

Step 6: Bake Again

Once you have poured the second batter onto the crust, stick it into the oven for another 20 minutes (still 350°F). The bars will firm as they cool. Then, cut them to a desirable size (I cut mine into 2-inch squares).

Step 7: Done!

If you want to stop here, congratulations, you've made lemon bars! If you want to add a little extra something to them, continue onto the next step. A suggested thing to add is powdered sugar.

Step 8: Extras!

Congratulations, you are officially done making your lemon bars! You could stop there, or you could go the extra step. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top of them, or really, anything. Now, if you REALLY wanna go the extra mile, feel free to add food coloring, or instead of lemons, do limes. It's really yours to make.

Step 9: Now, Enjoy!

congratulations, you've made lemon bars! now, the final step is to enjoy your creation :)

this batch (should) serve about 36.

and for the future, happy baking!

Step 10: My Trial and Error/conclusion (not a Step)

this isn't really a step, but my experience making the lemon bars. i don't recommend messing up on purpose, but just let the baking happen. my advice to you is to follow the directions e x a c t l y. don't think "oh maybe i should add a little more flour" or "maybe i should add a little more lemon" because that could mess up the entire baking process, and we wouldn't want that to happen, now, would we? (we wouldn't.)

my errors: i didn't exactly raise the edges of the crust too high up, so when i poured the lemon filling onto it, it kind of covered the entire crust. i wouldn't recommend making the edges too high, but make them high enough so that, again, the crust doesn't drown under the filling. also, make sure you melt the butter for a little bit before you start baking. i didn't exactly do that, and if you didn't do it either, you can make the butter room temperature or softer by kneading it with your hands. one more thing, i didn't have the exact measurement tray (mine was 12x17) so as a result the crust was a bit on the thin side.

what i learned: i learned that baking is oh so very precise and that you need to follow the directions exactly in order for it to turn out the way you wanted to. basically, just let it flow and make sure you follow the instructions. baking can be fun but only if you make it to be. :)

(also, my lemon bars turned out great, so, if you follow the directions, i guarantee yours will too :)