Lemon Hazelnut Squares Food

LEMON HAZELNUT SQUARES

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square baking pan with foil; butter foil. Mix flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and nuts and blend until fine meal forms. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake until light brown around edges, about 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare filling:
• Blend first 6 ingredients in processor.
• Pour filling onto hot crust. Bake until filling begins to brown at edges and is just springy to touch, about 20 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack.
• Lift foil and dessert from pan. Gently peel foil from edges. Cut dessert into 16 squares. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly; chill.) Sift powdered sugar over squares; serve at room temperature.

LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN HONEY BARS)

Steps:

• Honey bars:
• Heat honey and water in a large heavy saucepan until runny. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in brown sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir just until combined. Add almonds, citron, and candied orange peel. Stir until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 1 month.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper so it extends over the 2 long sides.
• Firmly press the dough into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes.
• Citrus glaze and decoration:
• In a medium bowl, beat together powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. While the lebkuchen is still warm, spread glaze evenly over the top.
• Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about ¼ inch deep with a knife. Decorate, if desired, by placing 1 candied cherry in the center of each bar. And arrange 4 blanched almonds around each cherry.
• Let stand in the pan on a rack until completely cool and the icing is set. Using the overhanging parchment as handles, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars. If possible, let the cookies age for at least 2 weeks to allow the spices to ripen. Lebkuchen will keep for months in an airtight container.

MEYER-LEMON AND HAZELNUT TART

Steps:

• Crust:Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pulse hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt; pulse to combine. Add egg white and butter and process until dough comes together. Transfer 2/3 cup dough to the bottom of a 9-inch fluted tart pan. With an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread and press in an even layer. Press remaining 1/3 cup dough firmly up sides of pan. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Blind-bake crust: Remove from freezer and prick all over with the tines of a fork. Bake until golden brown and dry, 20 to 25 minutes (if browning too quickly, tent edges with foil). Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. The tart shell can be baked up to two days ahead; store at room temperature.
• Filling:Place 2 teaspoons cold water in a small bowl; sprinkle with gelatin. In a medium saucepan, whisk together granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, yolks, and salt. Add butter, place pan over medium heat, and cook, whisking, until butter is melted. Continue to cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and small bubbles form around edge of pan, 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and whisk in gelatin mixture. Strain through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl, then pour into cooled crust. Refrigerate until filling has set, at least 2 hours.
• Meringue:Whisk together egg whites, granulated sugar, cream of tartar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place over (but not in) a saucepan of simmering water. Cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is warm to the touch and no longer feels grainy when rubbed between two fingers. Transfer bowl to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat 1 minute more. Transfer meringue to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip (such as Ateco #808). Pipe large rounds around perimeter of tart. Brulee meringue with a kitchen torch, if desired. Serve.