Baking experts - WHEN do I cut my lemon squares or apricot bars?

I find it is too messy to cut into soon after it is out of the oven. How long do I have to wait to cut so it looks neat? I have sometimes found that waiting makes it impossible to cut into.. the short crust base gets too hard.,

You cut it two minutes before the oven is done.
Then, back to the oven to get the crispy.

That's the way, but haven't you tried something like that already?

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