Lemon Walnut Bars

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Yields: 16 bars

Ingredients

• Crust

• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 2⁄3 cup  packed golden brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon  freshly grated lemon zest
• 1  pinch salt
• 6  tablespoons  chilled butter, cut into pieces
• 1⁄4 cup  untoasted walnut pieces, ground coarse

• Filling

• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2  large eggs
• 1  tablespoon  freshly grated lemon zest
• 1⁄3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1  teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3  tablespoons  coarsely chopped toasted walnuts
•  icing sugar
•  walnut halves

Directions

1. For crust: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F.
2. Mix first 4 ingredients in a bowl, add butter and walnuts and cut in using fingertips until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
3. Firmly press crumbs on bottom of 9-inch square baking pan.
4. Bake crust until golden-brown, about 20 minutes.
5. Cool while preparing filling.
6. Maintain oven temperature.
7. For filling: Whisk ¾ cup sugar, eggs and peel in medium bowl until light and fluffy.
8. Whisk in lemon juice, flour and soda.
9. Pour over crust.
10. Bake until just set and edges are lightly-browned, about 12 minutes.
11. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over.
12. Cut into squares, sift icing sugar over, and top each square with a walnut half.