Lemon – Dorm Bakery

A tart and tasty go-to treat; lemon bars are simple and sweet, like a spring day. I am all too aware that spring is still a couple months away, the weather won’t let me forget. The sun is a terrible tease, and the temperature is ferociously frigid, but I might as well let my baking be bright and sunny!

I had never made lemon bars before, but it was my friend’s birthday and I asked her for her favorite treat. If you didn’t guess, it’s lemon bars. I looked at a few different recipes, they were all very similar.

Ingredients

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened

2 cups plus 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 heaping tablespoon grated lemon zest (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350. Mix 1/2 cup of powdered (or white cane) sugar with the butter until light and fluffy, or well mixed. Then add the 2 cups of flour; mix until smooth. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan and place in the prepared oven for about 15 minutes. It should turn golden brown. I used my pie dish and my new tart pans, because I don’t have a square pan.

While the cookie/crust layer is baking beat together the eggs and 2 cups of sugar, along with the lemon juice (and zest). Slowly add the last 1/2 cup of flour until well blended. Pour lemon mixture over hot crusts and return to the oven for another 20-25 minutes. Allow your bars to cool before cutting and dusting with powdered sugar!