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Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
These are the most luscious, lemony lemon bars with shortbread crust. Melt in your mouth, buttery shortbread is layered with a fresh, full-bodied lemon custard baked on top.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Servings: 20
Calories: 160 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
- 12 TB salted butter chilled and cut into 1 inch pieces
For the Filling:
- 4 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 TB all purpose flour
- Juice of 3 large lemons 2/3 cup
- zest of 2 lemons
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ⅛ tsp table salt
Instructions
- For the Crust: Preheat oven to 350F with oven rack at middle position. Press a long piece of foil into 13x9 baking dish, so that the ends hang over the dish (helps with removal of bars). Grease the foil and set aside.
- Blend flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt in food processor until fully combined, about 15 seconds. Add butter and process to blend, about 10 seconds. Then pulse until the mixture looks pale yellow, resembling a coarse meal. If you're doing it by hand, mix the dry ingredients together in large bowl.
- Freeze butter and grate it on large holes of a grater, into the bowl and toss pieces to coat with flour mixture. Rub the bits with fingers until flour turns pale yellow and resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle crust mixture into prepared pan and firmly press into an even layer over bottom of pan. Place pan in freezer for 10 minutes. Then bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- For the Filling: Whisk eggs, sugar, and flour in large bowl. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, milk, and salt to incorporate.
- Reduce oven temp to 325F. Stir filling mixture well, and pour into warm crust. Bake until filling feels firm upon a very light touch, 20-25 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely to room temp.
- Tightly cover and chill in fridge before serving. Once chilled, remove entire dessert with foil sling, and cut into squares with a very sharp knife or serrated knife. Dust with powdered sugar upon serving, if desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If dusting with powdered sugar on top, wait until you're ready to serve. Otherwise, powdered sugar will dissolve.
- Lemon bars keep well in the fridge. Wrap them airtight for up to 4 days.
- Baked lemon bars can be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 1 month.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating♡
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
160kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
24g
(8%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
56mg
(19%)
Sodium
85mg
(4%)
Potassium
22mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
271IU
(5%)
Calcium
20mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 20Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 160
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 160kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 24g | 8% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 56mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 85mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 22mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 271IU | 5% |
| Calcium | 20mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.