squares of lemon flavored goodness

These lemon squares (from this book) were made last week and while they were good, the crust was not 100% perfect. A little cardboard-y and not the melt-in-your-mouth crumbly short bread texture I prefer in a lemon bar.

To make the crust layer you grate frozen butter with flour and powdered sugar, so that was fun. The girls liked it. My favorite all time lemon bar recipe is here and it's so good that I shouldn't deviate because nothing can compare, but these were very tasty anyway. After they cool, before cutting, I always refrigerate bar cookies—the potentially gooey ones. I use parchment paper now to line the pan, and then cut while chilled semi-firm. I cut the edges off, too. They are yummy to nibble on and make the squares look just perfect. Since my newly instated parchment paper policy with all bar cookies, cakes and brownies, life in the kitchen had been much more rated G, not R, which is good for the whole family.

Comments

[Mary]

Lemon Bars are my husband's all-time favorite. And now that it's spring, I think it's time to make some again!

[Nevis]

Looks absolutly delicious? Were they more tart than sweet?

[Johanna]

mmmm...lemon bars. my lips are puckering just thinking about them :)

[Tina]

"The Great American Bake Sale" by Alison Boteler has the most amazing (and easy) recipe for lemon bars. I have been making these for years and get asked for the recipe all the time!

[Jess]

Those look so tasty!
I love lemon bars and I discovered lately that my husband of 8 years doesn't care for them at all.
It has been a hard time for me to say the least...

[Paige]

Oooh! I love lemon bars! I haven't had any in so long - I think I'll bake me up a batch of the ones on epicurious. Yum!

[rachel]

Parchment paper is my best friend.

[Therisa]

I agree with Rachel...can't live without parchment paper. Now, if I can only find freezer paper...

[Laura]

You are cracking me up about the rated G cookie bars! Aren't lemon bars the worst to cut?! I'll have to try your refridgeration tip next time. Also, I'm guilty of using the Krusteaz box lemon bars, but I'll have to give your recipe a try when I make them!

Laura in Naperville, IL

[Johanna]

Oooh, I love Lemon Squares, but mine never come out as good as the ones from a box. :-( It disappoints me every time. I've saved the Epicurious one and I'll try it next time!

Thanks, as always, for the inspiration!

[Rebecca]

hey! i've been reading your page for a while and LOVING all the cute ideas! could you possibly post a recipe for banana pudding that you love? i'm finding all these out of the box type things, and while i don't mind incorporating box pudding or what not, i don't want that to be the entire recipe.

I want some awesome/unforgettable banana pudding.

I figured your family won't mind you making some ;o) thanks!

[Terri]

They look delicious! Such a great time of year for lemon bars. I will have to try using parchment paper more. I only use it when a recipe tells me!

[Kathi D]

I am going to make these for my husband this weekend. I haven't made them for years, and we always loved them.

My recipes always seem to go in cycles. I make something ALL THE TIME and then I go forever without making it at all.

[KellyS]

Good advice on getting them to look good. My lemon bars come out super-buttery and gooey, but also look like hell when cut.

[Joyce]

I love stopping by your blog because you always seem to have some yummy treat posted everytime i drop in! those lemon bars are making me hungry!

[robinette]

Thanks so much for the tips and recipes! Lemon bars are my all-time favorite dessert...mmmm!

[itsmiadear]

How ironic! I was going to make lemon bars yesterday and post them on my blog. We must have some kind of blog connection.

[Steph]

oooo, thanks for reminding me that I should make lemon bars! And that I should use parchment paper, I think my husband would be thrilled if my kitchen wasn't R rated all the time! :]

[emily ruth]

i've been using parchment for every little baking thing too & i am so happy! i don't have to scrub my baking sheets....parchment paper is sent from heaven, i'm quite sure:)

[Stacy]

Hmmmm I wonder if this was the same recipe that was in an old Spring issue of Kids...? I just made that one for my son's b-day at school and it was the same with the grating of the frozen butter, etc. They were very yummy but I just don't like how icing sugar soaks in. They didn't look as pretty by the time we got to school but they were still mmm mmm good.

[Dawn]

They look delicious! Does the frozen butter make it better?

[amy k.]

thanks for the lemon bar tips! These were quite tart which is good.

stacy:
there was no icing in this recipe, so maybe it was different?

Dawn: the frozen butter was for the crust and I don't think it made it better.

April:
banana pudding? I have never tried it! I like banana bread-but don't like banana cake. . .

Therisa:
there is a discussion about where to find freezer paper in the Bend the Rules flickr group.

Next up-I want to try the Key Lime bar recipe from the same book-right?!

[Emily]

Oh my those look wonderful. I just love lemon bars - or more precisely, tart lemon bars! I must try this recipe. (man I can feel my pants getting tighter already!)

On an aside, can you recommend some good vegetarian cookbooks? My local library is very limited (living here in beef country and all) so I can't do much browsing but if I have some names, I can get them via interlibrary loan. Thanks!

[Natalie]

OMG these look so good! I want to make them but my husband absolutely hates lemon bars! ahh!

[heather]

I love lemon squares! But I lost my fave go-to recipes, and any others I try all end up not as good. I am going to give yours a try, both of them, what have I got to lose? In fact I'm pretty sure I will be gaining after eating some of these, but I am willing to make that sacrifice, all in the name of lemony deliciousness!

[Melody]

Wow, those look delicious! My mouth is watering! Thanks for the link to the recipe :)

[Tamara]

Anything with lemon in it is a favourite of mine. These look delicious. I posted a recipe on my blog for a Very Special Lemon Slice. You must try it - a little decadent though.
I always scrimp on the paper, don't know why because I always end up cursing too.

[Violette Crumble]

Perfect timing. The Meyer lemons are in abundance in town lately and I'm needing to make as many lemony things as possible. I'll try that epicurious recipe.

[steffi]

omg! they sure are delicious!
... hungry...

[Rachel]

Just looking at your last two posts is enough to make my mouth water! I love anything lemon-y.

[karen gray]

yum! I am definitely making lemon bars today. I need some extra calories. :)
karen

[Grammie]

Family secret: Amy's Lemon Bars were included in one of those family recipe books organized by two of her aunts back in the early '80s. The adults were asked to contribute, but Amy insisted we include "her" Lemon Bars: her favorite back then. I think the recipe came from a red-checkered Betty Crocker cook book in the ring binder, and no parchment was used.

[Zegi]

A 'G' rating is definitely better for the whole family!!! They look yummy, anyway :)

[Alya]

Yummyy!! Lemon bars rock.. Thanks for divulging your fave recipe, some ppl really need it!

[AJ]

They look very yummy. My mom had a recipe that was delish but we don't know what happened to it. I'll have to try the one you linked to.

[forcryeye]

Please send me a piece. I love me a good lemon bar. I know what you mean about the crust. I make mine with oatmeal, butter and flour.

[farmgirl]

have you ever tried adding just a teenie bit of ginger or mint to your lemon bars? one summer i went hog wild and added a wee bit of lavender...
parchment paper is thee bomb.

[katie]

Oh, yum! I love love love lemon bars and am world-famous -- or at least neighborhood-famous -- for mine. Recipe looks similar to your fav -- I think the grated lemon peel makes the difference.

Will have to try to streusel my next batch.

Gotta love the streusel!!

[colleen]

mmmmmmmmmmmm. it's not enough that you've almost bankrupted me after showing me the way to sock dreams and then reading every word of black apple's blog (new to me). now, this. oh thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!

[White Feather]

For Rebecca: I have never found a banana pudding recipe any better than the one on the back of the Nilla wafer box. Not the easiest, but surely the best. No boxed pudding here....it is made with homemade custard and meringue on top. O-M-G! It is incredible.

[louise]

I can recommend the slices in Bill Grainger's books..(and his restaurants in Sydney..)

[Linda]

There are basics for which I am always searching for the quintessential recipe. Lemon bars is one of them, so thank you for the recipe recommendation.

[Linda]

There are basics for which I am always searching for the quintessential recipe. Lemon bars is one of them, so thank you for the recipe recommendation.

[Stacy]

hi amy - I guess that's my Canadian-ness showing through. What Americans call "confectioners sugar" we call "icing sugar". So it sounds like the same recipe if you were supposed to dust them with "confectioners sugar".

[Sabina]

I loooooooove lemon bars and can't live without parchment paper!!

Have a great weekend!!

[Julie]

Whoa -- you were just listed on Martha Stewart's Blog!

[amy]

I made the one on epicurious and I like them except I would like them a bit more tart. The sugar made a think crispy layer on top. I love them!!!!!

[rebekka]

REALLY, aren't lemon bars the tastiest thing ever!?!?!

[corrie]

oh yum that is exactly what this pregnant belly needs
Corrie:)