Grandma’s Lemon Bars – A Couple Cooks

This simple lemon bars recipe (aka lemon squares) has all of Grandma’s secrets and techniques! A zingy custard topping layers a thick shortbread layer.

Right here’s a traditional recipe that’s one of many prime methods to take pleasure in zingy citrus: this simple lemon bars recipe! This one is my Grandma’s recipe, accomplished up with a number of small tweaks to coax out much more taste. A zingy lemon custard topping layers over a thick shortbread layer, making the perfect textural distinction of gooey versus crunchy. It’s bought simply the correct burst of lemon and trace of vanilla within the shortbread. And, they’re less complicated than you’d think about to whip up. And as a self-professed chocoholic, I really may choose one in all these bars over chocolate (gasp!).

Substances in lemon bars

Lemon bars or lemon squares are an American dessert that incorporates a lemon curd topping layered over a shortbread crust. The primary reference to a recipe was in a Chicago newspaper in 1962, so it’s a retro recipe that went on to change into a traditional. One good factor about lemon bars is that the lemon curd is baked proper on prime of the crust, making it a lot less complicated than whisking it on the range just like the traditional technique. There are various totally different spins on lemon bars, however most recipes embrace the next:

• All goal flour
• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Lemon juice and zest

The supply of this lemon bars recipe

This lemon bars recipe actually is Grandma’s: she was my mother’s mother who I referred to as Gram. Gram’s lemon bars recipe is typed onto on a recipe card that’s attributed to somebody named Lynn Drier. As a modern-day recipe developer, I really like studying recipes of the previous and the way easy they have been.

In fact, a number of the directions have been “widespread information” and assumed the reader would know precisely what to do. For instance, the recipe lists the crust elements (flour, butter and powdered sugar) then states, “Combine and bake 20 minutes at 350 levels.” There’s loads to deduce right here: Melted butter or chilly? What measurement pan? Combine with a whisk or spoon? Bake till golden brown, and does the timing depend upon the oven?

Right here we’ve taken Gram’s lemon bars recipe and added a bit extra element for the fashionable cook dinner. We additionally added just some elements to make the flavour pop: barely extra lemon juice and lemon zest for zingier topping, and salt and vanilla within the crust for complexity within the shortbread. However in any other case, the recipe is actually the identical! Because of Gram for this recipe and my mother for sending {a photograph} of that previous typed recipe card.

Suggestions for lemon bars

This lemon bars recipe could be very simple to whip up: however there are some things to notice whenever you go to make the recipe. Right here’s what to know:

• They’re finest chilled, so make them prematurely (day earlier than is finest). You don’t desire a lemon bar heat from the oven: they’re sometimes served chilled or room temperature after chilling. So make them nicely earlier than you wish to serve them! They work nicely if you happen to throw them within the fridge the evening earlier than.
• Don’t fear if the highest is erratically browned or has bubbles. This was one thing that shocked us: the highest can brown in a short time when baking! Watch the oven so it doesn’t get too browned. Nevertheless, it’s not an issue if it does: the powdered sugar topping covers every little thing.
• Add the powdered sugar topping proper earlier than serving. If the lemon curd is heat, the topping soaks proper in. (That is one different place we diverged from the unique recipe!) Cool the lemon bars fully earlier than topping.
• For clear slices, clear the knife after every lower. When chopping into bars, clear off the good for the perfect edges to the bars.

Storage data

Lemon bars retailer very nicely within the fridge! Listed here are a number of ideas for storage:

• Retailer the bars refrigerated for as much as 2 weeks. They probably final even longer if you happen to nonetheless have leftovers.
• Or, freeze them for as much as 3 months. Ensure to freeze with out the powdered sugar topping for finest outcomes.
• The powdered sugar topping can dissolve if the bars sit some time at room temperature. This occurred we had them sitting out on a dessert desk. You may merely add extra powdered sugar after which refrigerate the leftovers.

Extra lemon recipes

We’re fairly obsessive about this lemon bars recipe. Actually, regardless that I’m an enormous chocolate lover I actually can’t resist one in all Grandma’s lemon squares. Listed here are a number of extra lemon recipes starring this tart citrus: