Lemon Squares with Cornmeal Crust

Submitted by CountryLady

"Courtesy of pastry chef, Anna Olsen .... these are the best selling treat at her Toronto bakery! The cooking time includes cooling."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 10mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Yields: 16 squares

ingredients

• Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup cornmeal
• 4 tablespoons icing sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter

• Filling

• 4 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 1⁄3 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons whipping cream or 4 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1⁄2 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

directions

1. Crust: Preheat oven to 350 F; butter and line the bottom of a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Combine flour, salt, cornmeal and icing sugar; cut in butter until the texture of coarse meal (dough will be crumbly).
3. Press dough into pan and bake for 15-18 minutes, until it just begins to colour around the edges; allow to cool.
4. Filling: Whisk together all ingredients for filling until smooth and pour over crust.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until set and a crust is visible on top of the squares.
6. Allow to cool at room temperature for 20 minutes, then chill for at least 2 hours.
7. To Assemble: cut squares and serve, dusted with icing sugar.

Reviews

[plouhoward]

I made these yesterday and was very disappointed. The crust had an odd crunch from the little bits of cornmeal, not good. But the biggest problem was the topping. It was very thin and runny when I poured it over the cooled crust. After baking I discovered it had seeped under the parchment paper on the bottom, so there was a layer of filling underneath that I ended up scooping out after cutting the now, very thin squares. The lemon filling was very lumpy and an odd texture. Overall, this was not a great recipe. I would not recommend it.

 

[Shasha]

It was too tart and the filling had a weird consistency. I don't know what I did wrong.

 

[Kittencalrecipezazz]

I made these tonight but made the crust on a food processor, easy to put together, I was lucky to get a taste of these, they flew out the door with my son and his fiance. Delicious and slightly creamy, verrrrry tart! thanks for sharing... this is a wonderful recipe for lemon bars!...Kitten:)

 

[cooking whiz 1990]

amazing dessert for formal or informal nights. always a hit at a party. medium difficulty, sweet but not overly-sweet and not just another chewy pastry.