Dense Lemon Squares Recipes

BEST LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Process 2 cups flour, butter, and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges of the crust are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool crust to room temperature.
• Beat white sugar, eggs, 1/4 cup flour, lemon juice, baking powder, and lemon zest together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy; pour onto the cooled crust.
• Bake in the oven until custard is set, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool lemon squares completely; dust the top with more confectioners' sugar.

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Pat into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 16-20 minutes or until set and top is golden brown., For topping, combine the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Pour over crust (pan will be full). Bake 16-20 minutes or until set and top is golden brown. Cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares.

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Mix the flour and confectioners' sugar in a bowl and add the melted butter, mixing until a dough forms. Press the mixture firmly into a 9- by 13- by 2-inch pan. Bake the crust for 25 minutes.
• For the filling: While the crust is baking, with an electric mixer, combine the eggs, lemon juice and zest until smooth. Add the granulated sugar, flour, baking powder and salt, and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture over the baked crust. Bake for 20 minutes more.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely. Sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares and serve.

BUTTERY LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• In a bowl with mixer, beat butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar until mixture is smoothly blended.
• Add 2 cups flour to butter mixture.
• Beat until well mixed.
• Pat dough into a ball.
• Press evenly into a buttered and floured 9- by 13-inch pan.
• Bake in 350°F oven until golden, about 20 minutes.
• While dough bakes, in a food processor or bowl with mixer, whirl granulated sugar, remaining 1/3 cup flour, baking powder, grated lemon peel, lemon juice, and eggs to blend.
• Pour onto hot crust.
• Bake until the lemon mixture is no longer runny in the center (cut to test), 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven and dust with remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
• Cool in pan on a rack.
• With a sharp knife, divide into 24 squares.
• Store in airtight container up to 2 days or can be frozen to store longer.

THE BEST LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
• Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.