How to Make Lemon Bars

Creamy lemon, buttery pastry ... it's gotta be lemon bars. Make these for that person in every family who could care less about chocolate but has a thing for lemon (even if that person is a weirdo). Yields 20 bars.

Things You'll Need

• 1/3 c. butter
• 1 c. granulated sugar - divided use
• 1 c. plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour - divided use
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
• 3 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• powdered sugar (optional)
• Groceries
• Chef's Knives
• Baking Pans
• Hand Mixers
• Mixing Bowls
• Wire Cooling Rack
• Mixing bowls

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Beat butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed for 30 seconds.

3. Add 1/4 c. sugar and beat until combined.

4. Beat in 1 c. flour until mixture is crumbly.

5. Press mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan.

6. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden.

7. Combine eggs, 3/4 c. sugar, 2 tbsp. flour, lemon peel, lemon juice and baking powder in a small bowl as pastry is baking.

8. Beat mixture 2 minutes, or until just combined. Set aside and wait for pastry to turn golden.

9. Remove pastry from oven and pour filling over it. Bake 20 minutes longer, or until center is set and edges are lightly browned.

10. Cool on a wire rack.

11. Sift powdered sugar over the top, if desired.

12. Cut into 20 bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Meyer lemons - a favorite with chefs - give a slightly different lemon character to these bars.

• You can make these into orange or lime bars simply by substituting orange or lime juice and peel for the lemon juice and peel.