Classic Lemon Bars

Classic Lemon Bars

Ingredients:

CRUST:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup salted butter, diced

LEMON FILLING:

2 cups granulated sugar

4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

4 large eggs

1/2 cup lemon juice (2 medium sized lemons)

1/4 cup orange juice

powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions:

PRE-STEP: Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

MAKE CRUST:

STEP 1: In a food processor, pulse flour, powdered sugar, and diced butter until crumbly.

TIP: If you don't have a food processor, you can use a medium sized bowl instead. Whisk together flour and powdered sugar. Using a fork or your fingers, cut in the butter until mixture becomes crumbly.

STEP 2: Press dough crust into prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

MAKE LEMON FILLING:

STEP 3: In a medium sized bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder.

STEP 4: Add eggs, lemon juice, and orange juice. Whisk together until well blended.

TIP: If your oven bakes on the lighter side, I would suggest increasing the bake time to 35 minutes. One of the reasons lemon bars fail is because you didn't bake them long enough, so make sure you use a oven thermometer to make sure your oven is at the correct temperature and that you BAKE these bars long enough! 

STEP 5: Pour the lemon filling over hot crust. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

LET COOL & CUT INTO SQUARES:

TIP: Allowing these bars to cool & set is a super important step!

STEP 6: Allow lemon bars to cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Then cover and chill in the fridge for 1 1/2 hours or overnight.

STEP 7: Cut lemon bars into squares and dust tops with powdered sugar.

TIP: Use a sifter to dust powdered sugar over bars.