Recipe of the Month: Lemon Bars

Summer is truly the best time of year to enjoy fruity desserts. These lemon bars are the kind of dessert that looks and tastes like something you would pick up at a neighborhood bakery, but they are surprisingly easy to make at home. They are simple and impressive, whether you are hosting or just want something special in the fridge.

Here’s what you need

For the crust:

1 cup butter, softened (I use 1 stick salted and 1 stick unsalted)

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup powdered sugar

Pinch of salt

For the lemon filling:

4 large eggs

1 ¾ cups sugar

Zest of 1 lemon (tip: Zest the lemon before squeezing for the juice)

¼ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup fresh lemon juice (this can take up to 4 lemons, depending on size)

Here’s what you do

Make the crust:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the butter, flour, powdered sugar and salt. You can mix this by hand or use a hand mixer on low, just until the butter and flour are fully incorporated. 
3. Once mixed, use your hands to evenly distribute everything and form a soft dough.
4. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a well-greased, 9×13-inch pan. 
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is set and lightly golden

Make the lemon filling:

6. While the crust bakes, beat the eggs in a bowl. Add the sugar and lemon zest, and mix well. Stir in the flour until fully combined.
7. When the crust comes out of the oven, whisk the lemon juice into the egg mixture. 
8. Pour the filling over the warm crust, making sure it spreads evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes, until the filling is just set.
9. Let the bars cool completely before cutting. Slice into squares or triangles, then dust with powdered sugar just before serving.