Garden Club Lemon Bars

Submitted by HeatherFeather

"This is my favorite lemon bars recipe, which I originally copied out of my mother's old Garden Club cookbook, hence the name. I have been making this recipe since I was a little girl and I have always loved it. I have made these so many times over the years and have not really ever felt the need to improve on it. However, when I was a girl I did used to use dried bottled lemon zest(yikes), since I wasn't allowed to use the razor sharp grater. I use the real thing now that I am an adult. I have to admit that I do still usually use the bottled RealLemon lemon juice rather than fresh to this day - in fact, I buy it specifcally for these bars. There is something very nostalgic to me about that green jar of bottled juice, that it just doesn't seem fitting to use anything else. :)"

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 16 bars

ingredients

• Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup sweet unsalted butter
• 1⁄4 cup powdered sugar

• Topping

• 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs or 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten with a fork until foamy
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice (psst -I use bottled lemon juice in this most often)
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt (optional)

• Additional Ingredient

• 1⁄4 cup powdered sugar or 1/4 cup icing sugar, for dusting tops, approximately

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine crust ingredients until mixture resembles crumbs using a pastry blender or a couple of butter knives.
3. Press into a greased and floured 8" square glass baking pan using your fingers- press it so that the entire bottom of the pan is covered evenly.
4. Bake partially for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
5. While the crust is prebaking, combine the filling ingredients and pour over the warm crust.
6. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned- do not overbake.
7. Let cool completely.
8. Once cool, sift powdered sugar over the top- you may need more or less to taste.
9. I like mine to look like they've been covered with a snow.
10. Slice into bars and serve.

Reviews

[Michelle S.]

FANTASTIC! These are to die for! They go together fast and taste delicious! The crust is buttery and tender, and the filling lemony and velvety. I cut back abit on the sugar as I like my bars with a little bite (can't STAND sugary sweet lemon bars, no lemon flavor that way!) and it was perfect. This will be made often at my house!

 

[chia2160]

just delicious! nice crust, great filling. they are sweet and not lemony, but i used the zest of 1 lemon and the juice of 2, i hate a bald lemon. thanks heather for making me use my pastry cutter and help me find my missing blades- and for this great recipe, of course

 

[honey fudge]

If I could give more stars, I would. I made these with lime instead of lemon and they were amazing. I ate the entire pan! I like less crust, more filling for my bars, however, so with the leftover crust I made cookies. After cooling all night they became even better tasting and I will definitely make them again!!

 

[MooseCall]

Quick and Good. I made it in a pie pan and took a picture. I thought 3 tbsp of lemon juice is too much, but it was just right. I didn't reduce sugar, and it was just right for me :)Only thing: the crust was good (tastes like butter cookie) was too crumbly and it was hard to scope it up. The bars harden as they cool. I actually prefer them warm. thanks

 

[cbw8915]

Yum! I have tried several recipes for lemon bars, but these are my new fav. They are so good and very easy to make. I have to admit that I didn't use any lemon zest because I decided to make them at the last minute and didn't have any lemons on hand, but it was still wonderful. I also halved the recipe (I couldn't decide between 2 desserts and decided to make small dishes of them both). Thanks for a great recipe, HeatherFeather!