Perfect Lemon Bars

These lemon bars feature a tender, sweet shortbread crust made with confectioners sugar and a light, intensely lemony filling. The recipe ensures the bars cut cleanly and hold their shape, offering a perfect balance of tart and sweet. A classic American dessert that is simple to make but impressive to serve.

Cooking Method: Baking, Steaming

Cuisine: American

Courses: Desserts

Difficulty: Advanced

Servings: 6

Calories: 256

Dietary: Vegetarian

Description

These lemon bars feature a tender, sweet shortbread crust made with confectioners sugar and a light, intensely lemony filling. The recipe ensures the bars cut cleanly and hold their shape, offering a perfect balance of tart and sweet. A classic American dessert that is simple to make but impressive to serve.

Directions

1
For the crust: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
2
Lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and line with one sheet parchment or wax paper.
3
Dot paper with butter, then lay second sheet crosswise over it.
4
Pulse flour, confectioners sugar, cornstarch, and salt in food processor workbowl fitted with steel blade.
5
Add butter and process to blend, 8 to 10 seconds, then pulse until mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse meal, about three 1-second bursts.
6
(To do this by hand, mix flour, confectioners sugar, cornstarch, and salt in medium bowl. Freeze butter and grate it on large holes of box grater into flour mixture. Toss butter pieces to coat. Rub pieces between your fingers for a minute, until flour turns pale yellow and coarse.)
7
Sprinkle mixture into lined pan and press firmly with fingers into even, 1/4-inch layer over entire pan bottom and about 1/2 inch up sides.
8
Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
9
For the filling: Meanwhile, whisk eggs, sugar, and flour in medium bowl, then stir in lemon juice, zest, milk, and salt to blend well.
10
To finish the bars: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
11
Stir filling mixture to reblend; pour into warm crust.
12
Bake until filling feels firm when touched lightly, about 20 minutes.
13
Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to near room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
14
Transfer to cutting board, fold paper down, and cut into serving-size bars, wiping knife or pizza cutter clean between cuts, as necessary.
15
Sieve confectioners sugar over bars, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6 servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories 256kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7.6g12%
Saturated Fat 4.4g23%
Cholesterol 49mg17%
Sodium 75mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 40.1g14%
Dietary Fiber 0.8g4%
Sugars 21.5g
Protein 3.4g7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: lemon, bars, dessert, shortbread, crust, filling, baking, american, confectioners sugar, eggs, butter, zest

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/perfect-lemon-bars-cooks-illustrated-2-5-pts/