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There’s nothing higher than a buttery shortbread crust topped with a juicy lemon filling and a sprinkling of powder sugar. This traditional recipe for lemon bars is the one one you’ll ever want! It’s happiness in bite-sized items.
Dessert bars are my favourite as a result of they’re really easy to whip up. All you must do is combine the components collectively and throw them in a pan! They’re so potluck-friendly and nice for feeding a crowd. After you’ve loved a tasty batch of lemon bars, you’ll should attempt a few of my different favorites like Neiman Marcus bars, cookie dough bars, and carmelitas!
Finest-Ever Lemon Bars
I LOVE lemon bars, possibly even borderline obsessive about them! (Truthfully, lemon desserts basically.) I’m all the time the primary to seize them at a celebration. They’re simply so luscious with that buttery shortbread crust and tangy however candy middle. And that completion of powdered sugar? The candy deal with of my goals!
I do know it feels like I’m tooting my very own horn right here, however you’ll not discover a higher lemon bar recipe than this one. I attempted so many variations however wouldn’t cease till the bars met my necessities. The right buttery shortbread crust with sufficient custardy lemon filling on prime. The ratios should be proper! I can wholeheartedly say, these are every part you could have ever needed in a lemon bar! Even my lemon-hating husband was a believer after he tried a bit.
All of the Elements You’ll Want
My one tip right here is that it would be best to use contemporary lemons for this recipe, not lemon juice focus. It makes all of the distinction! From there, all you want are a couple of easy components out of your pantry!
- Butter: I extremely advocate utilizing actual butter as an alternative of margarine for the perfect taste and texture. Carry it to room temperature earlier than you utilize it so it mixes easily with the opposite crust components.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Provides the proper sweetness to the shortbread!
- Flour: All-purpose flour works nice for giving the crust construction.
For the Lemon Filling:
- Eggs: Make the filling good and easy and provides it that custard-y impact!
- Sugar: White sugar helps to steadiness out the tartness of the lemon juice and zest.
- Lemon Zest: For some further tangy taste! I used about 2 rinds’ value.
- Contemporary Lemon Juice: Once more, contemporary is greatest! You will want about 3-4 giant lemons to get sufficient juice, after which you should utilize the peels on your zest.
- Milk: Provides creaminess to the filling. We’re not attempting to be wholesome right here, so go for complete milk! The excessive fats content material will make the filling further wealthy and decadent.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Sufficient to sprinkle the lemon bars with. That further pop of sweetness is the proper completion!
Can I Use Bottled Lemon Juice As a substitute of Contemporary?
You’ll be able to, however it’s going to change the flavour a bit. I all the time desire contemporary. When substituting lemon focus for actual lemon juice in a recipe, use two tablespoons of bottled lemon juice to interchange the juice of one lemon.
Let’s Make Lemon Bars!
The toughest a part of making these lemon bars is ready to eat them. It additionally takes a little bit of effort to juice and zest the lemons, however it’s completely value it. The flavour is simply too good!
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit. Then grease a 9×13 pan and put aside.
- Beat: In a big mixing bowl, beat butter and confectioners sugar till blended. Then slowly combine in 1 ½ cups flour.
- Press: Firmly press into the underside of a greased 9×13 pan and bake for 18-20 minutes till golden brown.
- Filling Combination: Whereas the crust is baking, whisk in a small bowl the eggs, sugar, zest, lemon juice, milk and remaining 3 Tablespoons of flour till frothy. Then pour over the recent crust.
- Bake: Flip the oven all the way down to 325 levels and bake a further 18-20 minutes till the highest is calmly brown.
- Cool and Serve: Cool fully on a wire rack. Then mud the highest with further confectioners’ sugar. Reduce into bars and refrigerate any leftovers.
Juicing Tip:
Reduce and quarter your lemons then microwave them for about 30 seconds. This helps the lemons launch extra juice!
Easy methods to Choose the Finest Lemons
It will probably appear sophisticated, however when you recognize what to search for, you’ll be an skilled. Go for deep yellow lemons which can be heavy if you maintain them in your palms. The heavier the fruit and thinner the pores and skin, the extra juice it’s going to have!
Ideas for the Finest Lemon Bars
These are a couple of simple fixes that can take your lemon bars from good to nice! Belief me, it’s nicely definitely worth the effort. As soon as you are taking a chew of buttery, lemony goodness you’ll be a believer. Retailer-bought lemon bars simply received’t lower it anymore!
- Let Your Bars Cool: It’s greatest to let your bars cool at room temperature for no less than two hours. It will assist the filling set and make it simpler to chop into uniform squares.
- Room Temperature Moist Elements: Use room temperature eggs and butter. They combine up extra simply.
- Line the Pan: If you’re apprehensive concerning the lemon bars not having the ability to come out, use foil or parchment paper to line the underside of the pan.
- Sift the Powdered Sugar: Use a sifter or sieve to unfold the powdered sugar on prime of the bars. It’s going to cowl them evenly and with out lumps.
- Zesting Lemons: Wash your lemons completely earlier than zesting. Should you don’t have a zester you should utilize the smallest holes of a cheese grater. You wish to cease zesting when you hit the pith or white half as it’s fairly bitter.
Storing Leftovers
With how wonderful these lemon bars are, leftovers are a rarity! Should you’re fortunate sufficient to have some or making these bars forward of time, right here’s how one can preserve them contemporary:
- Within the Fridge: Retailer bars in an airtight container or wrap with plastic wrap. They’ll keep good for 1 week.
- Within the Freezer: Wrap tightly with plastic wrap to forestall freezer burn and retailer for 2-3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge after which allow them to come to room temperature earlier than serving.
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Preheat oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13 pan and put aside.
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In a big mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar till blended. Slowly beat in 1 and ½ cups flour.
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Press into the underside of a greased 13×9 pan and bake for 18-20 minutes till golden brown.
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Whereas baking, in a small bowl whisk eggs, sugar, zest, lemon juice, milk, and remaining 3 T flour till frothy. Pour over the recent crust.
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Flip oven to 325 levels and bake for a further 18-20 minutes till the highest is calmly brown. Cool fully on a wire rack. Mud the highest with further confectioners’ sugar. Reduce into bars and refrigerate leftovers.
Initially Posted on April 2, 2019
Serves: 12
Energy245kcal (12%)Carbohydrates30g (10%)Protein2g (4%)Fats13g (20%)Saturated Fats8g (40%)Trans Fats1gLdl cholesterol93mg (31%)Sodium128mg (5%)Potassium50mg (1%)Fiber1g (4%)Sugar29g (32%)Vitamin A457IU (9%)Vitamin C6mg (7%)Calcium22mg (2%)Iron1mg (6%)
All dietary data is predicated on third celebration calculations and is just an estimate. Every recipe and dietary worth will range relying on the manufacturers you utilize, measuring strategies and portion sizes per family.
