Special Day Lemon Bars Recipes

SPECIAL DAY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
• Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed.
• Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and gather into a ball.
• Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 x 13 x 2" baking sheet, building up a 1/2" edge on all sides.
• Chill.
• Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned.
• Let cool on a wire rack, leaving the oven on.
• For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and flour, and pour into the crust.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes more, until the filling is set.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

THE BEST LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
• Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.