Special Day Lemon Bars Recipes

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.

CLASSIC LEMON BARS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes; gradually beat in flour until blended. , Press into an ungreased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. , For filling, in a small bowl, beat the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, flour, lemon zest and baking powder until frothy. Pour over crust. , Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until set and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares.

GARDEN CLUB LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine crust ingredients until mixture resembles crumbs using a pastry blender or a couple of butter knives.
• Press into a greased and floured 8" square glass baking pan using your fingers- press it so that the entire bottom of the pan is covered evenly.
• Bake partially for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
• While the crust is prebaking, combine the filling ingredients and pour over the warm crust.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned- do not overbake.
• Let cool completely.
• Once cool, sift powdered sugar over the top- you may need more or less to taste.
• I like mine to look like they've been covered with a snow.
• Slice into bars and serve.

OATMEAL LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 13x9 pan and set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar. Slowly add flour until incorporated. Slowly add oats and blend until crumbly. Press 3/4 of mixture into the bottom of the pan to form bottom crust. Reserve remaining dough.
• The juice of 3 lemons--the recipe I used wasn't more specific on the measurement so
• if your lemons aren't very juicy please squeeze 1 or 2 more. Too little lemon juice just produces very very bland lemon bars.
• Make sure the zest is finely grated or finely chopped. Blend condensed milk, zests and juice until smooth. Pour over crust and spread to the edges of the crust.
• Crumble the reserved dough over the top.
• Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes or until crust crumbles are lightly golden. Cool completely, at least 1 hour before cutting.
• Store in an airtight container.
• I wish I could tell you how long they keep but that has never come up since they disappear so quickly!

SPECIAL DAY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed.
• Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and gather into a ball.
• Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 x 13 x 2" baking sheet, building up a 1/2" edge on all sides.
• Chill.
• Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned.
• Let cool on a wire rack, leaving the oven on.
• For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and flour, and pour into the crust.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes more, until the filling is set.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.