So vivid & cheery! -Baking a Second

Lemon Bars: a beloved traditional deal with! Buttery shortbread crust, tangy lemon filling, and a dusting of powdered sugar on high. So vivid, citrusy, & joyful!

Unique publish date: January 31, 2019.

On the subject of treats which might be straightforward to tote, dessert bars win hands-down. Simply stack ’em and pack ’em, and also you’re good to go!

A few of my favorites embody these unbelievably wealthy and chocolatey brownies, these candy and buttery blondies, and, after all, cheesecake bars!

However the record wouldn’t be full with out that beloved traditional: lemon bars! These are synonymous with bake gross sales and informal get-togethers. The lemon taste brings such a heat ray of sunshine with each chunk!

These lemon bars encompass a buttery, crumbly shortbread base, topped with a sticky layer of gooey lemon goodness (much like thick lemon curd) and a beneficiant dusting of powdered sugar on high to stability all of the flavors.

You get a buttery, virtually savory crust, vivid, tangy citrus, and candy sugar. It’s an unimaginable mixture!

Desk of Contents

Right here’s Why You’ll Love These

• Easy: This recipe is fast and simple to make, with only a few easy substances you most likely have already got readily available.
• Refreshing: Lemon bars are so vivid and cheery!
• Distinction: The buttery, crumbly shortbread crust in opposition to the tart and creamy lemon filling supplies essentially the most unimaginable distinction of textures and flavors!
• Timeless: Lemon bars are a complete traditional, and this recipe honors that conventional, nostalgic taste.

Components You’ll Want

Flour: All-purpose flour is my go-to, however you may swap it out for any type of whole-grain choice if you happen to like.  (You might want barely much less if you happen to go that route.) A gluten-free flour mix that may sub 1:1 for normal flour also needs to work simply high quality, if you happen to’d prefer to make gluten-free lemon bars.

Sugar: We’re going to use 2 sorts of sugar right here: powdered sugar within the crust (it makes issues so tender!) and granulated sugar within the filling. You’ll be able to sub in one other sort of sweetener if you happen to like.  So long as it swaps 1:1 for granulated sugar it ought to work.

Salt: Salt carries the flavors and intensifies them.  The tip outcome received’t style salty, however it should make the whole lot a lot extra flavorful! I like kosher salt greatest as a result of it doesn’t have any components so the flavour is pure. Desk salt often accommodates iodine which may depart a bitter style.  It’s additionally cheap and simple to seek out in an everyday grocery retailer.

Butter: I like to make use of unsalted butter as a result of it lets me management the quantity of salt within the dish.  Totally different manufacturers of butter can include completely different quantities of salt, so this fashion you get a extra constant outcome.  For a vegan or dairy-free lemon bar recipe, use a plant-based product that may substitute for dairy butter 1:1.

Eggs: Eggs construct the construction and add richness. It’s greatest in the event that they’re at room temperature, though I don’t discover this to be important. Use giant hen eggs or a plant-based product that subs 1:1.

Lemon: I extremely suggest utilizing recent lemon juice for this recipe- the flavour is wonderful! And in the event that they’re in season and you could find them, Meyer lemons present a extra light, much less tart taste.

In Photographs: Methods to Make Lemon Bars

Step 1: Whisk the flour, powdered sugar, and salt collectively and add the chilly butter.

Step 2: Reduce the butter into the flour combination till solely pea-sized items stay.

Step 3: Press the combination into an excellent layer in a calmly greased, parchment-lined sq. pan.

Step 4: Bake till simply barely turning golden across the edges.

Step 5: Stir the sugar and flour collectively in a big bowl.

Step 6: Whisk within the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

Step 7: Pour the filling over the crust and bake till set across the edges however nonetheless barely wobbly within the middle.

Step 8: Permit the bars to chill utterly, then reduce into squares and dirt the tops with powdered sugar.

Useful Suggestions & Methods

• Line the pan: With parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the perimeters. This makes lifting the lemon bars out of the pan and onto a chopping board very easy.
• Use chilly, cubed butter when making the shortbread crust: This helps create a young, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Don’t overmix: Be cautious to not overmix the shortbread crust. Overmixing can result in a tricky crust.
• Press evenly: A good layer of crust ensures constant baking, so that you received’t find yourself with some spots which might be underdone and others which might be burnt.
• Use recent lemons for the zest and juice: They provide essentially the most vibrant and genuine citrus taste on this lemon dessert recipe!
• Don’t overbake: Maintain an in depth eye on the bars as they bake. Overbaking may end up in dry, gummy lemon bars. The middle ought to be set with a slight wobble. Take note, they’ll proceed to arrange rather a lot as they cool.
• Cool utterly: Permit the lemon bars to chill utterly within the pan earlier than lifting them and chopping them into squares. This helps them set correctly and ensures clear, neat slices.

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Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars: a beloved traditional deal with! Buttery shortbread crust, tangy lemon filling, and a dusting of powdered sugar on high. So vivid, citrus-y, & joyful!

To make the shortbread crust

• Preheat the oven to 350 levels F, mist an 8×8 pan with non-stick spray, and line with parchment.

• Place the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a big bowl and whisk to mix. 

• Reduce within the butter till the combination resembles coarse crumbs.  

• Press the combination into the underside of the ready pan in an excellent layer, and bake till set (roughly 20 to 25 minutes).

To make the lemon filling

• Whisk the sugar, flour, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice collectively in a big bowl.

• Pour the filling over the partially-baked crust and bake till the filling is ready (roughly 25 to 35 minutes). 

• Cool utterly, reduce into squares, and dirt with powdered sugar for garnish. 

Methods to Retailer

Room temperature: For those who plan on consuming your lemon bars inside a day or so, there isn’t a have to refrigerate them. Place the bars in an hermetic container, stacking them with a parchment or wax paper sheet between every layer. Refrigerate: If they’re out for longer than a day, then it’s time to pop them into the fridge. Place them in an hermetic container with a sheet of parchment paper between layers. They are going to final for as much as every week when refrigerated. Freezer: You too can freeze lemon bars! They need to preserve within the freezer for 2-3 months. You should definitely wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag labeled with the date. Thaw them at room temperature for just a few hours earlier than serving.

Extra nice citrus-y treats:

Serving: 1sq., Energy: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 2g, Fats: 6g, Saturated Fats: 4g, Ldl cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 89mg, Potassium: 36mg, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 235IU, Vitamin C: 4.5mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.7mg