Description
These Meyer Lemon Bars with Extra Buttery Shortbread Crust are a delightful balance of tangy and sweet. With a buttery crust and a creamy lemon filling, they are perfect for gatherings or as an everyday treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, replace with flour if omitting)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature, whisked
- 1¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon extract (optional)
- powdered sugar for dusting
- lemon slices for garnish or lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease or line an 8×8 inch baking pan.
- For the crust, whisk together sugar, flour, salt, and optional lemon zest in a medium bowl. Add melted butter and vanilla, and mix until a thick dough forms. Press into the prepared pan, covering about ¾ inch up the sides. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- While the crust bakes, whisk together sugar, flour, and lemon zest for the filling. Add the whisked eggs, lemon juice, and extracts and mix until smooth.
- Once the crust is baked, reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Optionally, poke shallow holes in the warm crust with a fork.
- Pour the lemon filling over the crust. Bake for 20-22 minutes until just set and the edges are lightly browned.
- Cool the bars on a wire rack at room temperature, then refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight before serving.
- Slice and serve, dusting with powdered sugar and garnishing with lemon slices or zest, if desired.
Notes
Ensure the butter is cooled slightly before mixing into the crust for the best texture.
For an extra zing, use a mix of lemon zest and lemon extract in the filling.
These bars can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg