Luscious Lemon Bars

I have baked a ton of lemon bar recipes over the years and have never found "the one". I took what I liked from my top recipe picks and developed what I think is an awesome lemon bar recipe! They are incredibly luscious and luxurious. You might wonder what the secret is to these wonderful bars - well, I'll tell you. It's the flour in the filling. The flour gives the filling a rich creaminess that I absolutely love. The short bread cookie is all that it should be - buttery with a hint of lemon. They would make great additions to a New Year's Eve celebration or any party really. Please try these lemon bars and let me know that you think! I would love to hear from you.

Bon Appetit!

Tips:

Place the lemons in a microwave for 15 seconds to make it easier for max juice and zest.

Preparation time is 20 minutes. Total time is approximately 1 hour.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Ingredients for Crust:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Ingredients for Filling:

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (approximately 2 lemons)
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup flour
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup sugar

Directions:

Line an 8 by 8 pan with parchment paper. Combine all the crust ingredients and mix well. Press into the pan, working to spread evenly. Bake for approximately 16 minutes in a 325 degrees F oven.

For the filling, mix all the filling ingredients with a whisk in a large bowl. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes. Remove from the oven and dust with powdered sugar if desired. Cool before serving.