Award Winning Lemon Squares Food

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a food processor combine flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Turn mixture out onto a 9 by 13-inch baking pan and press into an even layer, covering the pan. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until layer is light golden brown. While the crust is baking, in a large bowl over simmering water whisk the butter, 3/4 cup sugar and lemon juice until the mixture feels warm, sugar is completely melted and incorporated, and is lighter, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from heat. Beat eggs with 1 tablespoon sugar until light and frothy. Temper hot lemon mixture into eggs then add eggs back into lemon, whisking constantly. Pour lemon mixture over hot crust, return pan to the oven and bake another 15 to 20 minutes until curd is set and crust is golden brown. Allow to cool completely on a rack. Cut into 2-inch squares.

LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 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 board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
• Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
• For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
• Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• For the crust: Lightly brush a 9- by 13-inch baking pan with butter. Beat the butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Whisk the flour, cornstarch and salt together in a medium bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter and mix just until combined. Evenly press the dough into the prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Cool.
• For the filling: Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, granulated sugar, flour, salt, eggs and yolks in a large bowl until thick and light. Lightly whisk in the citrus juices. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake until set but still loose in the center, about 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Cut into 2-inch squares and just before serving, dust generously with confectioners' sugar.

CHEF JOHN'S LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Place an oven rack into middle position in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Place 1 cup flour and butter in a mixing bowl and mash with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Mix in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; mash mixture together until mixture looks like a slightly crumbly cookie dough.
• Moisten your fingers with a little water and press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish. Use a fork to prick holes all over the crust.
• Bake crust on center rack in the preheated oven until crust edges are barely golden brown, 22 minutes.
• Beat eggs and egg yolks together in a bowl; whisk in white sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Add lemon juice and lemon zest; whisk for 2 minutes. Pour lemon custard over crust.
• Bake on center rack until custard is set and top has a thin white sugary crust, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Dip knife into very hot water, run around the edge, and cut into 16 squares. Dust cookies with 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar.

COUNTY FAIR FIRST PRIZE BLUE RIBBON LEMON BARS

Steps:

• First Make the Base:.
• 2 cups flour.
• ¼ cup sugar.
• 1 cup butter softened.
• Preheat Oven to 350.
• Cut ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Pat crust into 13 X 9 inch baking dish.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Then:.
• Make the Topping :.
• 2 cups sugar.
• 1 tsp baking powder.
• ¼ cup flour.
• 3 eggs.
• 2/3 cup lemon juice.
• Grated rind of 2 lemons.
• Mix ingredients together in a large bowl and pour over crust. Bake another 20 minutes.
• Cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into squares.

INCREDIBLE LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• In medium bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup icing sugar.
• Add 2 cups flour and stir with wooden spoon until well combined.
• Pat evenly into a 13 by 9 inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Combine eggs, sugar, remaining 1/3 cup flour, lemon juice and baking powder in blender container; cover and blend for 5 seconds. Scrape down sides of blender and blend another 5 seconds.
• Pour over partially baked crust and bake another 25 minutes or until light brown.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Sprinkle with remaining icing sugar.
• Cut into 32 squares.

MAGIC LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F (325F if using a glass dish).
• In medium bowl, combine oats, flour, coconut, nuts, sugar, baking powder, and butter. Stir to a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine milk and lemon juice.
• Pat 1/2 of crumb mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Spread milk mixture over and sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool thoroughly before serving.

EASIEST EVER LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Combine flour and sugar, then butter until the mixture clumps together.
• Press firmly into 8" square pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and spread with jam.
• Beat eggs until light and creamy.
• Beat in pie filling powder and ground almonds.
• Pour over jam layer.
• Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 or until set and firm to touch.
• Cool and cut.
• For Lemon Coconut squares sub 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut for the ground almonds and sliced almonds.

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
• Butter 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
• In food processor combine 2 cups flour, butter pieces, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the coconut.
• Process until moist clumps form.
• Press onto the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Bake about 20 minutes, until edges are golden.
• In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups sugar, eggs, lemon juice, baking powder and the remaining 1/4 cup flour until well blended.
• Pour over hot crust.
• Bake until topping is set and light brown, about 25 minutes.
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
• Cut into squares and dust tops with powdered sugar.
• Can be made 1 day ahead.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Makes 36 squares.

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.

BEST LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Process 2 cups flour, butter, and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges of the crust are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool crust to room temperature.
• Beat white sugar, eggs, 1/4 cup flour, lemon juice, baking powder, and lemon zest together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy; pour onto the cooled crust.
• Bake in the oven until custard is set, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool lemon squares completely; dust the top with more confectioners' sugar.

SUZANNE'S FAMOUS LEMON SQUARES OR BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º F.
• For Crust: Melt butter.
• Stir sugar and flour together.
• Mix the two, and pat into the bottom of 9"x13" baking pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• For Topping: Using a spoon, combine these ingredients, adding flour and baking powder gently. Do not use electric mixer.
• Pour over baked crust carefully.
• Bake another 25 minutes until firm.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Cool completely before slicing.
• Reminder: Do not use electric mixer. Do not double this recipe. For more pungent lemon flavor, add one grated lemon rind to the egg mixture.

LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together two cups flour, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and salt. Add melted butter and stir to thoroughly combine. Spread with clean hands in an even layer into a 9-by-13-inch pan and bake for 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice, baking powder and remaining flour. Pour onto the hot baked shell and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until just set. Using a small, fine meshed sieve, sift remaining confectioners' sugar on top when cool. Cut into equal bars.

SUMMIT LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Pastry: Blend ingredients and pat into bottom of a jelly-roll pan.
• Bake in preheated 325° oven for 15 minutes.
• Topping: In a mixing bowl, beat eggs lightly with a fork.
• Add remaining ingredients (except powdered sugar).
• Mix well and pour on top of baked pastry.
• Bake in preheated 325° oven for 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Cool and cut into squares.