Sarahs Creamy Custard Lemon Bars Food

LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9×13 baking pan* with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished bars out (makes cutting easier!). Set aside.
• Mix the melted butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir to completely combine. The dough will be thick. Press firmly into prepared pan, making sure the layer of crust is nice and even. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven. Using a fork, poke holes all over the top of the warm crust (not all the way through the crust). A new step I swear by, this helps the filling stick and holds the crust in place. Set aside until step 4.
• Sift the sugar and flour together in a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs, then the lemon juice until completely combined.
• Pour filling over warm crust. Bake the bars for 22-26 minutes or until the center is relatively set and no longer jiggles. (Give the pan a light tap with an oven mitt to test.) Remove bars from the oven and cool completely at room temperature. I usually cool them for about 2 hours at room temperature, then stick in the refrigerator for 1-2 more hours until pretty chilled. I recommend serving chilled.
• Once cool, lift the parchment paper out of the pan using the overhang on the sides. Dust with confectioners' sugar and cut into squares before serving. For neat squares, wipe the knife clean between each cut. Cover and store leftover lemon bars in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Lemon bars can be frozen for up to 3-4 months. Cut the cooled bars (without confectioners' sugar topping) into squares, then place onto a baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour. Individually wrap each bar in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place into a large bag or freezer container to freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator, then dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

LEMON CUSTARD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Spray and 8-inch square pan with cooking spray and wipe with a paper towel.
• In a medium sized bowl, combine crust ingredients and mix well.
• Spread crust dough over bottom of the pan.
• In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients and mix well.
• Pour the topping over the crust.
• Bake for 27-30 minutes.
• Cool completely before cutting bars and serving.
• Dust bars with powdered sugar when cool.

SARAH'S POST-WORKOUT LEMON POPPY SEED BARS

Steps:

• Whisk together the oat flour, protein powder, poppy seeds and kosher salt. Add the cashew butter, honey, coconut oil and lemon extract. Use your hands to mix it all together. It will be dry at first but will come together. You want the batter to be thick and firm.
• Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line with a sheet of parchment paper with ends that extend about 2 inches over two sides of the pan. Press the dough down firmly with your hands into an even layer. Top with the chocolate chips and flaky sea salt and gently press into the dough. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours. Then cut into desired-size bars. Store in the fridge.

MRS. FIELD'S TRIPLE-LAYERED LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Prepare the shortbread crust: Cream butter and sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer set on high speed. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Add flour and mix at low speed until fully incorporated.
• Press dough evenly into bottom of an 8- by 8-inch baking pan. Refrigerate until firm, approximately 30 minutes.
• Prick shortbread crust with fork and bake for 30 minutes or until crust turns golden brown. Cool on rack to room temperature.
• Prepare the cream cheese filling while the crust is baking: Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth in medium bowl with electric mixer set on high speed. Add egg and lemon extract and beat on medium speed until light and smooth. Cover bowl tightly and refrigerate.
• Prepare the lemon curd: Blend the egg yolks with cornstarch and sugar in medium non-aluminum saucepan. Place over low heat and slowly whisk in water and lemon juice. Increase heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Add lemon peel and butter and cool for 10 minutes.
• Assemble the bars: Sread chilled cream cheese filling evenly over cooled shortbread crust with spatula. Spread lemon curd evenly over cream cheese filling. Place pan in center of oven. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until edges begin to turn light golden brown. Cool to room temperature on rack. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour before cutting into bars. Dust top with confectioners' sugar.

FINALLY! LEMON BARS THAT I LOVE!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a 13" x 9" baking pan with foil extending it over the sides a little. Lightly spray foil with butter-flavored cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. I use a whisk.
• With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Sprinkle dough evenly into bottom of pan. Level, brushing with your hand lightly, then pat dough firmly into bottom.
• Bake 15-17 minutes until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, in large mixer, beat eggs on high speed until thick and lemon-colored, about 3-4 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low, add lemon juice, sugar, baking powder, salt, and remaining 3 Tbl. flour.
• Beat until blended, scraping sides and bottom of bowl occaisionally.
• Pour filling over warm crust.
• Bake 15 minutes, or until filling is just set and golden around the edges.
• Transfer pan to wire rack.
• Sift powdered sugar (1 Tbl.-1/4 cup) on top over warm filling.
• Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
• When cool, lift out holding on to foil, and transfer whole thing to a cutting board or surface.
• When cool, cut into bars.
• Makes 24-36 bars.