Lemon Bars

Dear Chase:


I know you are too young to know this but there is an old saying that I have heard my whole life and it is "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"...well in my case, I decided to make Lemon Bars, ha! This  phrase means that life is going to toss all sorts of challenges and obstacles your way but it is what you make of it that matters and what will make the ultimate difference in the final outcome. So, no matter what life throws at you, take it all in and make the very best of every situation and everything will be just fine.


Now, back to these amazingly delicious,  super fast and easy to make -lemon bar or sometimes they are called lemon squares too. These bars have the perfect combination of a buttery, tender shortbread crust and it is filled with a tangy lemon filling that makes them so so good! I love how the shortbread crust hold the lemon filling and separates as it bakes for a gooey and moist texture.


Follow this recipe and enjoy!


Shortbread Crust:
1/2 c. Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/4 c. Powered Sugar or icing sugar
1 c. All Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt


Lemon Filling:
1 c. Sugar Cane Sugar
2 Large Eggs, plus (1) yolk
1/3 c. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Lemon Zest
2 tbsp. All Purpose Flour


Start off by pre-heating our oven to 350 degrees and spray your pan with a non-stick vegetable spray.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add all of the flour and salt at once and beat on medium speed until the dough starts to come together. Take the dough and press it into your prepared pan and bake for 18 mins or until the edges are lightly brown. Remove form the oven and allow to cool while you make the lemon filling.


Lemon Filling: Beat the sugar and eggs together until smooth. (I just use a whisk and a bowl for this step). Then, add the lemon juice, zest and stir to combine. Fold in the flour and pour the filling over the cooled shortbread and bake for 18-19 minutes or until the filling is set. Do not over bake, the center should still be quite soft. 


I must warn you that these are very addictive...I should know I had three in one sitting, ha! Enjoy!