Lemon Bars

Over the past couple years I have really enjoyed learning how to cook. It's not an exact science, and I am able to tweak recipes to my liking. I have become a bit more confident in my cooking, and I love it. But baking? Baking is something I am not confident doing. I am not the world's worst baker, but it often intimidates me. With most of this stuff, if you make a mistake it could completely ruin the end product. If I spend a butt load of time carefully measuring out ingredients only to find in the end that it is useless... I would have a high number of mental and emotional breakdowns. And no one needs to be put through THAT.

The long and short of it is, if the recipes aren't simple then I tend to have a panic attack. When baking I need very, very simple ingredients and instructions.

That is why I did a happy dance when I found Bakerella's recipe for lemon bars. They are so amazingly simple to make! And they taste fantastic too. It's a win-win-win.

Anyway. Being the nice person that I am, I have decided to share with you this fabulous recipe.(Complete with pictures too!)

Your welcome.


Lets start with the crust. You will need butter, flour and confectioners sugar. Told you it was simple.




Whisk together 1 3/4 cup flour and 2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar. Add 1 cup cold butter.

Then cut in the butter until the mixture is blended and crumbly. I used the back of a fork to work the butter into the flour. (Just as a warning, this will take a little bit of arm power. Do not be alarmed.)

When the mixture gets crumbly, pour it into your greased and floured pan and press firmly into the bottom. Bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.




While the crust is baking go ahead and make the filling. Gather together some flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon juice and eggs. See? More easy ingredients!




Slightly beat the four eggs and set aside. In another large bowl, add 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 4 slightly beaten eggs and 1/2 cup lemon juice.




Stir that together real good, and when you are done pour it onto the piping hot crust that just came out of the oven. (The liquid mixture may be a little lumpy. No cause for alarm.)




After you pour the mixture onto the crust, pop it into the oven for 20-25 minutes. (The picture above was taken BEFORE I put it in the oven the second time. Your lemon bars should not look this liquidy. Just thought that should be noted.)

When the bars are done, cool them completely then sprinkle with confectioners sugar and refrigerate. When you are ready to serve them, use a sharp knife and cut them into bars!



These are absolutely delish and sooo easy to make. Give it a try! All of your loved ones will thank you. Well, except the diabetic ones. They may curse you for sending them into a sugar coma. But the rest? They will love ya.

Lemon Bars

Crust:
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar (plus more for dusting)

Topping:
1 1/2 cup plain sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan

To make crust:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and confectioner’s sugar
• Cut in butter until combined and crumbly.
• Press mixture into bottom of pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

To make topping:

• While crust is baking, prepare topping.
• In a larger bowl, add sugar, flour, and baking powder.
• Then add slightly beaten eggs and lemon juice.
• Mix well and pour on top of warm baked crust.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• When cool, dust with confectioner’s sugar and refrigerate.
• Cut into bars and enjoy them cold!