Indulge your taste buds with the delectable Luscious Lemon Bars, a classic dessert that combines a velvety lemon filling nestled atop a buttery shortbread crust. This tantalizing treat offers a perfect balance of tangy and sweet, making it an ideal choice for any occasion, be it a casual gathering or a special celebration. The zesty lemon flavor bursts through with every bite, while the rich, crumbly crust provides a delightful textural contrast. This recipe provides step-by-step instructions for creating Luscious Lemon Bars from scratch, ensuring a delightful homemade treat. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this recipe caters to all skill levels, promising a delightful outcome. Alongside the Luscious Lemon Bars recipe, this article also offers variations to suit different preferences and dietary restrictions. From a gluten-free alternative to a vegan adaptation, you'll find options that cater to various dietary needs. Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds craving more.
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LUSCIOUS LEMON BARS
A buttery shortbread crust, luscious lemon filling, and dusting of powdered sugar make these lemon bars as pretty as they are delicious!
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Desserts
Time 1h20m
Yield 20 squares or 40 triangles
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cover a 9x13-in metal baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil (see note below). Push the foil neatly into the corners and up the sides of the pan, using two pieces if necessary to ensure that the foil overlaps all edges (the overhang will help removal from the pan). Spray the foiled pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the flour, corn starch, salt and Confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and mix for a few seconds. Add the butter and mix to blend until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 10 to 15 seconds. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly with your fingers into an even layer, building up a thin ¾-inch edge around the sides (this keeps the filling from spilling beneath the crust). Refrigerate for 30 minutes or freeze for 15 minutes.
- Bake the crust until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flour. Be sure no lumps of flour remain.
- When the crust is ready, give lemon mixture a quick final stir and then pour over top. Immediately return the pan to the oven and bake another 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is set and firm. Let the bars cool on a rack to room temperature; it will take several hours.
- To cut, use the foil overhang to lift the baked square out of pan and onto a cutting board. Carefully loosen the foil from the edges of the crust, using a knife if necessary. Using a sharp knife, cut into squares or triangles. Use a fine sieve to dust the squares with Confectioners' sugar. Store the bars in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve chilled or room temperature.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. After they are completely cooled, freeze the batch whole, covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. Before serving, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Cut the bars and then sprinkle with Confectioners' sugar before serving.
- Note: Be sure to use heavy-duty aluminum foil; regular aluminum foil may stick. Parchment paper can also be used to line the pan.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 large square, Calories 306, Fat 11 g, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sugar 36 g, Fiber 1 g, Sodium 140 mg, Cholesterol 80 mg
THE BEST LEMON BARS
It's tough to top a classic lemon bar, but we've done it! We kept the tender, buttery crust and bright filling of the original, and made a few improvements. For our luscious lemon layer, we employed a unique double-cooking method. Simmering first on the stovetop like lemon curd allows us to add butter, which balances the tart and sweet elements and adds a richer, smoother texture.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 3h
Yield 24 bars
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on 2 sides; spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- For the crust: Add the flour, cornstarch, confectioners' sugar and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse 10 times until combined. Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 times. (The dough will not come together in one mass.) Sprinkle the mixture evenly in the prepared pan and lightly pat it down. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
- For the filling: Combine the eggs, yolks, sugar, flour, salt and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Whisk continuously over medium heat, occasionally scraping down the sides and edges of the pan with a rubber spatula, until simmering and thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the lemon zest and butter until combined.
- Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Pour the filling over the crust and bake until just set, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Place on a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
- Use the foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Remove the foil and slice into squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
LUSCIOUS LEMON BARS
Classic lemon squares are always a popular dessert at teas, luncheons, and showers. As an added bonus, you can make them ahead and freeze for up to one month.
Provided by Southern Living Editors
Time 2h5m
Yield Makes about 2 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom and sides of a 13- x 9-inch pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil or parchment paper, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease foil.
- Stir together 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Press mixture onto bottom of prepared pan.
- Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Meanwhile, whisk eggs in a large bowl until smooth; whisk in granulated sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir together baking powder and remaining 1/4 cup flour; whisk into egg mixture. Pour mixture over hot baked crust.
- Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until filling is set. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Lift from pan, using foil sides as handles. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes). Remove foil, and cut into bars; sprinkle with powdered sugar.
LUSCIOUS LEMON SQUARES
A bright pop of citrus makes everything taste like sunshine, so it's no wonder that these Luscious Lemon Squares have become such a popular treat. Refreshing, sweet and just a little tart, lemon square bars are an easy-but-classic dessert. You'll want to keep this simple recipe for lemon squares handy so that you'll be able to whip up some beautiful sweets whenever the occasion calls for it.
Categories Dessert
Time 2h
Yield 25
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix flour, butter and 1/4 cup powdered sugar with spoon until well mixed. Press in ungreased 8- or 9-inch square pan, building up 1/2-inch edges.
- Bake crust 20 minutes; remove from oven. In medium bowl, beat remaining ingredients except additional powdered sugar with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Pour over hot crust.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched lightly in center. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 5 rows by 5 rows.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 100, Carbohydrate 13 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 2 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Square, Sodium 70 mg, Sugar 10 g, TransFat 0 g
THE BEST LEMON BARS
Tart, rich and perfection, all rolled into one! Wow your friends with this simple recipe. Hint: No Substitutions!
Provided by Patty Schenck
Categories Desserts Fruit Dessert Recipes Lemon Dessert Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
- Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 125.8 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 34.2 mg, Fat 5.8 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 44.4 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
LEMON BARS
Categories Egg Dessert Bake Vegetarian Kid-Friendly Quick & Easy Lemon Spring Gourmet Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates
Yield Makes 24 bars
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in lemon juice and flour. Pour lemon mixture over hot shortbread. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. and bake confection in middle of oven until set, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan and cut into 24 bars. Bar cookies keep, covered and chilled, 3 days. Sift confectioners' sugar over bars before serving.
LEMON BARS WITH OLIVE OIL AND SEA SALT
Traditional lemon bars balance the tangy sweetness of lemon curd with a rich shortbread crust. This recipe adds extra notes of flavor to the mix: the compelling bitterness of good olive oil and a touch of sea salt sprinkled on top. They lend a mild savory character to this childhood favorite, making it a little more sophisticated than the usual lemon bar, but just as compelling. Choose an olive oil with personality, otherwise you'll miss the point. Something herbal and fresh tasting with peppery notes works best. Although the bars will last up to five days when stored in the fridge, they have the brightest flavor when eaten within 24 hours of baking.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories snack, cookies and bars, dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield 24 bars
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 325 degrees and line a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with enough parchment to hang over two of the sides (to be used as handles later to lift the bars out of the pan).
- To make the shortbread base, pulse together the flour, granulated sugar, confectioners' sugar, lemon zest and salt in a food processor, or whisk together in a large bowl. Add butter and pulse (or use two knives or your fingers) to cut the butter into the flour until a crumbly dough forms. Press dough into prepared pan and bake until shortbread is pale golden all over, 30 to 35 minutes.
- While the shortbread is baking, prepare the lemon curd: Grate 1/2 tablespoon zest from lemons and set aside. Squeeze lemons to yield 3/4 cup juice.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together lemon juice, sugar, eggs and yolks, cornstarch and fine sea salt over medium heat until boiling and thickened, 2 to 5 minutes. Make sure mixture comes to a boil and stays there for 30 seconds or so; you should see it thicken up before you take it off the heat. But once it boils do not cook for longer than 1 minute or you risk the curd thinning out again. Remove from heat and strain into a bowl. Whisk in butter, olive oil and lemon zest.
- When the shortbread is ready, take it out of the oven and carefully pour the lemon curd onto the shortbread base; return the pan to the oven. Bake until topping is just set, 10 to 15 minutes more. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold before cutting into bars. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and flaky sea salt right before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 176, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 44 milligrams, Sugar 16 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BEST LEMON BARS
Lemon bars are all about contrast: sour lemon and sweet sugar, crumbly base and creamy topping, buttery crust and tart filling. Two common ingredients lift this recipe above the pack: baking powder for a fluffy filling and shredded coconut for a rich, round-tasting crust. (Once baked, the coconut flavor almost disappears.) Bakers who avoid preservatives will find an easy version of homemade sweetened coconut in the tip below the recipe.) For thicker lemon squares, use the square baking pan; for thinner ones, the large rectangle. For an easy lemon tart, simply cut the recipe in half and bake it in an 8-inch round tart pan, pressing the crust up the sides.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories easy, cookies and bars, dessert
Time 1h
Yield About 2 to 3 dozen bars, depending on size
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch or 9-by-9-inch baking pan, preferably nonstick.
- In a stand mixer or food processor, combine crust ingredients. Mix or pulse until well combined and moist clumps form. Using your hands, press mixture evenly but gently into prepared pan.
- Bake crust until edges and top are light golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate once for even browning.
- Meanwhile, make the filling: Whisk all the ingredients together until smooth.
- Pour filling over hot parbaked crust and return to the oven. Bake until filling is almost set, about 20 minutes more. (Thicker squares, baked in the 9-by-9-inch pan, will take longer.) Start checking after 15 minutes; when you give the pan a gentle shake, filling should be lightly set all over and still quivery in the very center.
- Let lemon bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Sprinkle the top lightly and evenly with confectioners' sugar.
- Cut into squares, diamonds or rectangles and remove from pan. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. If desired, sprinkle again with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 156, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 21 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 45 milligrams, Sugar 14 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use fresh lemons. Fresh lemons will give your lemon bars the best flavor. If you don't have fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice, but the flavor will not be as good.
- Zest your lemons. Lemon zest is the flavorful outer layer of the lemon peel. It adds a lot of flavor to lemon bars, so don't skip this step.
- Use a food processor to make the crust. A food processor will make quick work of the crust. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a pastry blender or a fork to mix the ingredients together.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing the batter will make the lemon bars tough. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined.
- Bake the lemon bars until the center is set. The lemon bars are done baking when the center is set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
- Let the lemon bars cool completely before cutting them. The lemon bars will be easier to cut if you let them cool completely.
Conclusion:
Lemon bars are a classic dessert that everyone will love. They're easy to make, and they're always a hit. So next time you're looking for a delicious and refreshing dessert, give lemon bars a try. You won't be disappointed.
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