With the official start of summer just 10 days away, I’m craving all things citrus. I don’t know what it is about that light, slightly tart taste, but for some reason it just draws me in. I just can’t get enough. So when I found this great recipe for lemon bars, I just couldn’t resist – I just had to make them…and I wasn’t going to be able to wait for the official start of summer. So I got to work in the kitchen to perfect this recipe and enjoy a fresh summer treat. These bars include more ingredients than I typically work with, but the instructions are so incredibly easy and they’re totally worth it! There’s a little bit of that sweet, sunny summer taste in each of these bars. Yum!
You will need:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar (plus a little extra for dusting)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
Zest from one large lemon
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (approximately 2 large lemons)
1/2 tsp lemon extract
Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350˚.
Step 2 – In a bowl mix together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla, then the salt, and finally 2 1/4 cups of the flour. Stir until well combined.
Step 3 – Press the dough into the bottom of a 13×9 inch pan lined with lightly greased parchment paper to form a crust. Bake until deep golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Remove and let cool 15 minutes.
Step 4 – In a separate bowl mix together the sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon extract and eggs. Beat until well combined and slightly frothy. Whisk in the remaining 3/4 cup of flour.
Step 5 – Pour the lemon and egg mixture over the crust in the pan and return to the oven and bake until the egg mixture is set and browned, approximately 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
Step 6 – Remove from the pan and cut into bars or squares, then dust with confectioner’s sugar.
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate…you know, if there are any left over, which there probably won’t be because they are just that good. Enjoy!
