Lemon Bars

This delicious Lemon Bars recipe features a buttery shortbread crust and tangy lemon curd filling topped with powdered sugar. They serve a bunch of people, so are a great option if you want to fill lunch boxes for the week or have to bring a plate to an event.

Ingredients and substitutions for Lemon Bars

• Plain flour: Plain or all purpose works best here for a nice shortbread base. You could replace with bread flour in equal measure, if that’s all you have on hand. It is not recommended to use cake flour as this would be too fine and wouldn’t give our base a firm texture.
• Butter: Room temperature unsalted butter is used here, though salted butter would also work if that’s what you have on hand. Room temperature is best because it combines with the sugar and other base ingredients best.
• Sugar: As a result of using superfine or caster sugar, the nice fine granules dissolve and add sweetness without adding additional flavors to the curd.
• Corn starch: Sometimes termed cornflour in certain parts of the globe. Corn starch does need to be heated to 95C/203F before it is activated to thicken and acts as insurance in setting our center during the baking process alongside the egg yolks.
• Eggs: The fat in the curd adds richness alongside the butter. The egg yolks should be room temperature as this helps avoid them curdling as they heat.
• Heavy cream: The fat in the heavy cream cuts through the intensity of the lemon flavor to mellow it out. You could substitute with non dairy heavy cream, though this has not been tested so the final result cannot be guaranteed.
• Lemon juice: This has to be fresh because bottled lemon juice tends to have additives to prolong it’s life and will not taste the same. Also, these lemon bars pack a punchy flavor - anyone who loves lemon will appreciate that; but anyone who doesn’t might say the flavor is a little too much. You could simply add 122 grams / ½ cup lemon juice instead, if you prefer.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Lemon Bars:

Step 1: Make that shortcrust base: Toss all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and cut into the flour mixture until it resembles rough breadcrumbs.

Step 2: Base it: Pour the shortcrust mix and press firmly to smooth out.

Step 3: Bake: Bake the crust until lightly golden.

Step 4: Lemon sugar: Rub the sugar and lemon zest to coat the zest thoroughly with sugar and draw out the oils in the peel.

Step 5: Heat: Toss into a saucepan with the corn starch and lemon juice until thickened and it has gone from looking cloudy to more transparent.

Step 6: Whisk: Egg yolks and heavy cream in a separate bowl until combined.

Step 7: Curd: Pour the egg and cream mixture into the hot lemon mixture and heat, whisking until bubbling and thickened.

Step 8: Top and bake: Strain, if preferred or pour the curd on top of your shortbread base and spread out evenly. Bake until slightly jiggly.

Step 9: Cool and chill: For several hours or preferably overnight before slicing into thick pieces and serve up.

Step 10: Sprinkle: A little confectioner's or icing sugar over.

Step 11: Enjoy: Dig in!

FAQ’s for the best Lemon Bars

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Lemon Bars

Sylvie Taylor

This bright Lemon Bars with shortbread crust recipe includes a buttery base and tangy lemon curd topping for a great zesty treat that is ideal for lunchboxes or when you need to bring a plate to a get together.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Chill time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs

Course Dessert

Servings 16

Calories 233 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Shortbread base

• 140 grams / 4.9 ounces butter room temperature
• 200 grams / 1 ¼ cups plain flour

Lemon curd

• 250 grams / 1 ¼ cups superfine/caster sugar
• 5 grams / 1 tablespoon lemon zest finely chopped
• 30 grams / ¼ cup corn starch sifted
• 153 grams / ⅔ cup lemon juice fresh
• 80 grams / 4 large egg yolks room temperature
• 200 milliliters / 1 cup - 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Instructions

 

Shortbread base

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350F and line a 18×18 cm or 7×7 inch square baking tin with parchment paper.
• Place the flour and butter into a bowl and beat on low until the mixture looks like a rough crumble and no piece of butter is larger than a pea.
• Spoon into your baking dish and press firmly until even.
• Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until ever so slightly golden.
• Remove and allow to cool fully and lower the oven temperature to 140C/285F.

Lemon curd

• Place the sugar and lemon zest into a bowl and rub together to coat the zest thoroughly with sugar and draw out the oils in the peel.
• Toss into a small saucepan and add the corn starch and lemon juice placing on medium heat, stirring swiftly with a spatula until thickened and it has gone from looking cloudy to more transparent.
• Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks and heavy cream in a separate bowl until combined.
• Remove from the heat and add in the egg and cream mixture, whisking swiftly to combine.
• Return to the heat and stir constantly until bubbling and thickened, approximately 3 minutes.
• Strain, if required, though not essential, on top of your shortbread base and spread out evenly.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until only slightly jiggly.
• Remove and allow to cool completely and then chill for several hours or preferably overnight.
• Slice into thick pieces and serve up.
• Sprinkle over a little confectioner's or icing sugar.
• Dig in!

Notes

• Corn starch: Sometimes termed cornflour in certain parts of the globe. Corn starch does need to be heated to 95C/203F before it is activated to thicken and acts as insurance in setting our center during the baking process alongside the egg yolks.
• Heavy cream: The fat in the heavy cream cuts through the intensity of the lemon flavor to mellow it out. You could substitute with non dairy heavy cream, though this has not been tested so the final result cannot be guaranteed.
• Lemon juice: This has to be fresh because bottled lemon juice tends to have additives to prolong it’s life and will not taste the same. Also, these lemon bars pack a punchy flavor - anyone who loves lemon will appreciate that; but anyone who doesn’t might say the flavor is a little too much. You could simply add 122 grams / ½ cup lemon juice instead, if you prefer.
• Small saucepan: To make the lemon curd, you’ll need a small saucepan or pot made of stainless steel because the acidity in lemon juice can risk tasting metallic (or turning green) if made in a reactive saucepan (think cast iron, unlined copper or aluminum).
• Offset spatula: A small spatula helps smooth out the shortbread and lemon curd layers.
• Baking tin: A square baking tin was used, though a rectangle tin would also work well. Note, the larger the tin from the one used here, the thinner your base and curd will be.

Recipe by Roamingtaste

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal

Keyword bars, citrus, winter baking

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