Lemon Bars

The Giggle Box's Note:

This recipe came from one of the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. It is very easy and the taste is fantastic!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 18 bars

For the Crust

• 1/2 lb unsalted butter, at room temp.
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the filling

• 6 extra large eggs, at room temp
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated lemons, zest of (4 to 6 lemons)
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. For crust: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Combine flour and salt and add to the butter until just mixed.
4. Dump dough onto well floured board and gather into a ball, flatten the dough w/ floured hands and press into a 9x13x2 inch baking sheet, building up a ½ inch edge on all sides.
5. Chill.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned.
7. Let cool on wire rack.
8. Leave oven on.
9. For the Filling: Whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour.
10. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the filling is set.
11. Let cool to room temp.
12. Cut into triangles and dust with confectioner’s sugar.
13. Store in the fridge.

Reviews

[978609]

These are incredible. I've made them ever since the book came out! Everyone always asks for the recipe. Follow the recipe exactly. Lemon juice from a bottle is not the same as freshly squeezed lemon juice. I tried. It sucked. It's a pain to squeeze all the lemons, but totally worth it!

[Inspired Chef Dani]

I absolutely loved this recipe. I made this last night and it turned out great. I had no problems making it. The only thing I didn't do was dump the dough onto a board since I didn't want to dirty anything else. :) So, all I did was put flour on my hands and gather it while it was still in the bowl then put in the dish and spread it out and it worked perfectly. One less thing to dirty. Anyway, they are the best!

[PanNan]

A very simple recipe, and the lemon filling tastes so fresh and delicious. I did have trouble with the crust. I wasn't sure if the ingredient list was exactly right, or if I did something wrong. It did not come together in a ball - it was still like the powdery pea stage of a pie crust before you add water. So, I added some water and I was able to gather in a ball to get it into the pan to press into a crust, but it didn't seem right. It tasted fine in the final product, though, and the lemon filling is outstanding.