Thursday, February 11, 2010

Lemon Bars

As happens every now and then, life handed me some lemons...
(or someone was giving them away at work and I took more than my fair share)
...so I made Lemon Bars.
I have to apologize to any of you if you've ever posted your beautiful lemon bars and felt someone come by with just a "that's nice" attitude. That was me. I just didn't know.
How was I to know that lemon bars made with beautiful fresh lemons were so luscious, and sweet, with just the right amount of tartness?
How was I supposed to know about the gooey goodness atop the shortbread perfection?
I was living in ignorance. I'm so glad my eyes have been opened.
If you're still living in the dark, please make these and join me in the land of lemon enlightenment.

Lemon Bars (from The Joy of Baking)

Ingredients:

crust:
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temp
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
filling:
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
2 tbsp all purpose flour
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 baking pan.
Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix together until dough just comes together. Press into bottom of greased pan and bake for 20 minutes.
With mixer, beat sugar and eggs until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and zest until combined. Fold in flour. Pour over shortbread crust and bake for 20 minutes until filling is set.
Cut into squares or triangles and dust with powdered sugar.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

YUM! I have some juice I got from fresh lemons from a friend in December frozen waiting for me to do something with it and I LOVE lemon bars! Thanks for the recipe!

Megan said...

I wish I could swipe more than my fair share from work - those guys wait for ME to bring everything in.

Lemon bars are the best - and if my husband wasn't dieting, I would make them in a heartbeat!

Krista said...

I love lemon bars. Your description: "lemon bars made with beautiful fresh lemons were so luscious, and sweet, with just the right amount of tartness" is right on! As soon as I can track down some fresh lemons I'd like to try your recipe. YUM!

Anonymous said...

They do look so perfectly moist, light, and just delightful!

Kim said...

I've been wanting to make some lemon bars, but then I reason with myself because I know that I will literally eat them all! These look delicious to me:D

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never had one. But they sound fabulous!

♥peachkins♥ said...

I love lemon bars that are not crusty...

Carma Sez said...

that's nice (I kid!) I seriously love lemon bars esp when they are soft and gushy :D

teresa said...

my mouth is watering so much with those bars, i love them!

noble pig said...

I rarely make mine because I eat them all!! Yours look delightful.

Reeni said...

It's been a long time since I felt my mouth pucker from a lemon bar! These look so refreshing and delicious.

~~louise~~ said...

A halo of tartness fell over me when I saw your "golden" bars of lemoniness. Gorgeous!

After the "bad luck" I had with that Lemon Meringue Pie I baked up, I've been contemplating lemon bars. Yours are indeed inspiring...Thanks for sharing...

theUngourmet said...

I've never made them with fresh lemon. I think I've only made lemon bars once, ages ago. My mom used to make them with some kind of nuts. I wonder if she used fresh lemons. I'll have to give her a call.

These look amazing!

Monica H said...

Living in the land of lemon enlightenment. Where do I sign up?!

My neoghbor made lemon bars once and the entire thing stuck to the pan. Like you couldn't even scrape them out and they weren't even that great either. I'll have to give these a try!

Miranda said...

Yum. I would've taken alot of lemons too. I love love love lemons.

Aunt Spicy said...

That is the recipe I grew up with...I love those! Dont try another recipe, they just do not compare!

Mara Campbell said...

i love lemon bars and your look delicious!!

Gretchen said...

These look so yummy! Makes me want to whip up a batch right now!

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

LOL, I'm son has been DRIVING me crazy, bugging me to make him lemon bars. I should probably take this as a sign.
~ingrid

Jackie at Phamfatale.com said...

I start getting a lot of Meyer lemons this season in my garden. I've started making lemon curd but I bet lemon bars would also be a hit in my home. Thanks for sharing!

Juliana said...

I love lemon bars, the mixture of the tart and the sweet flavor...absolutely mouth watering :-)

grace said...

lemon desserts don't typically excite me, but yours is soo moopy-goopy that i doubt i could control myself! what can i say, i love me some goo. :)

Claudya Martinez said...

That's funny because I've never really liked citrus pastries and then I tried some lemon bars made with fresh lemons and I love them now. They are exquisite.

Unknown said...

A true sign of an Arizonaian - lemons from a co-worker and "up north" to visit snow.

The lemon bars look wonderf1ul. I think I'm using my lemons for some creme brule. You're lemon bars have me changing my mind.

Keri said...

Okay, stop that now.