Whenever warmer weather rolls around my appetite for sour flavors always intensifies, I start putting lime and lemons on all of my dishes to satisfy that desire though most times it just ends up fueling my hunger. However I do have a secret weapon to combat the need for sour, that secret weapon is Lemon Bars.
These delectable little squares of happiness always brighten my day when it’s sunny. Their crisp shortbread crusts and bright yellow crud dusted with powder sugar are the symbol of summer freedom and fun.
But beware! These are not ordinary lemon bars! They are only for those who love the sensation of sour, the puckering of your lips, and the watering of your mouth. Yes these lemon bars are my world famous (ok family famous) super sour and super sweet lemon bars!
These bars are surprisingly simple to make! They only require a few ingredients for both the crusts and the curd, and a little Patience. Below is the recipe for the lemon bars so you can bake at home!
Ingredients
For the crust:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling:
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
First things first, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and butter the pans you wish to use (I normally use a 9x13in rectangular pan). Set them aside and get to work on your crust.
For the crust cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Combine the flour and salt together then slowly mix into the butter-sugar mixture until just combined. Dump the soft dough into your buttered pan and chill for at least 15 minutes. Once the crust is done chilling, take it out and back for 15-20 minutes until very lightly browned. Let cool while you prepare the filling.
For the filling you have a bit of freedom, you can combine all the ingredients listed above and end up with a particularly average Lemon bar, however, you can also try experimenting a bit. For example, my family prefers a runnier and lemoneier bar so I add another cup of lemon juice. One year we also added raspberries, blueberries, and strawberry jam! There are many things you can do so long as you remember to pour your filling into the crust and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set.
Once done cut into whatever shape you’d like, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy a delicious treat!