Trisha Yearwood Lemon Bars Recipes

FLORIDA CITRUS BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang for easy removal.
• In the bowl of a food processor, add the vanilla wafers, butter, granulated sugar, zest and a pinch of salt. Pulse until the mixture is a very fine crumb and is starting to clump together. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Chill the dish in the freezer while you make the filling.
• For the filling: Add the cream cheese, condensed milk, confectioners' sugar, grapefruit zest, lemon zest and orange zest to a large bowl. Whip together with an electric hand mixer until completely combined and there are no clumps of cream cheese. Fold in the whipped cream. Remove the crust from the freezer and pour in the filling, using a spatula to smooth it into an even layer. Return to the freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• For the topping: When the filling is set, remove the whole bar from the baking dish and place on a cutting board; removing the parchment. Decorate the top with the orange, grapefruit and lemon rounds, then carefully slice into bars. Serve immediately.

LEMON PECAN SLAB PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 17-by-12-inch rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Unroll the pie crusts and place them in the prepared baking sheet. Line them up so they meet in the center of the baking sheet and overlap a bit. Cut the crusts to fit together in a rectangle slightly larger than the baking sheet, pinching the center seams together. Crimp the dough around the edges of the baking sheet and cut off any excess dough around the edges. Chill while preparing the filling.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar and eggs until incorporated. Stir in the butter, milk, flour, lemon zest and juice, vanilla and 2 cups chopped pecans until combined.
• Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Arrange the pecan halves on top of the pie. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is set but still a little loose in the center (it will set as it cools), about 50 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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.

LEMON-BLUEBERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 4-by-8-by-2-inch loaf pan.
• Toss the blueberries in 2 tablespoons of the flour in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat together the butter, granulated sugar, eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice in the bowl of an electric mixer. Sift together the baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and remaining 1 1/2 cups flour in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture in alternating batches, beginning and ending with the flour. Fold in the pecans and blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack.
• For the glaze: Stir together 2 tablespoons lemon juice with the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl until completely smooth. Reserve the remaining lemon juice for another use. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the loaf while it is still warm, allowing it to drip down the sides. Serve the loaf warm or at room temperature.

GLAZED LIMONCELLO COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and zest, and beat until combined. Add the flour to the mixture, a little at a time, until a soft dough forms.
• Divide the dough in half and, using your hands, shape it into 2 logs, each 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs in waxed paper and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes, or place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Cut the logs into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
• Bake the cookies for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes.
• For the glaze: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, limoncello, lemon zest and lemon juice. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze, and place the cookies on a cooling rack set over the baking sheets. Allow to set for about 15 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.