Once when traveling I found this wonderful little cafe that has come to hold a special place in my heart. Two things I still think about now, years later – 1) their famous house dressing and 2) their lemon bars. Oh the lemon bars. It stresses me out and makes me feel desperate to think of them because I want one so badly. With no plans to visit, remembering them only saddens me. A solution had to be made and the solution is my own lemon bars.
The standard is high, but it must done.
CLASSIC LEMON BARS
Serves 15-16 bars
1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
6 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 lemon, zested
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup flour
Powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 cups flour to form a dough. Press into base of 9×13 baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, 3 cups sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1 cup flour. Pour over cooled crust. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature. Top with powdered sugar.
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup flour
- Powdered sugar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together butter, ½ cup sugar, and 2 cups flour to form a dough. Press into base of 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Allow to cool. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, 3 cups sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1 cup flour. Pour over cooled crust. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Allow to cool to room temperature. Top with powdered sugar.
Adapted from Ina Garten.