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The last couple of weeks I have had this indescribable craving for lemons and lemony things.  I have made Lemon Madeleines again, and still had this insatiable desire for lemon.  Growing up, my mom made these fantastic Lemon Bars with a dusting of powdered sugar on the top.  I’ve had lemon bars before that have too much crust and not enough lemon.  That is not the kind of lemony dessert I was craving, so I called my mom and got her recipe for perfect lemony goodness.  I quickly whipped them up, impatiently waited for them to cool, and then myself and a certain Handsome boy of mine may or may not have eaten a half of the pan.  Maybe.  But wouldn’t you?

The recipe will be after the break; here’s the nitty gritties:

• Total Prep-Time:  1 hour 45 minutes.  15 mins prep, additional 25 mins bake, 1 hour cool.  So, make these before dinner.  Or, make them for dinner.  Ya know, whatever.
• Was the recipe easy to follow: Super easy, one bowl to mix, one pan to bake.  Easy-peasy.
• Are the ingredients easy to find: Yes, just make sure you use fresh lemons!  No artificial juice, please.
• Do you need special equipment: No, but a cheese-grater (or lemon zester) and a lemon juicer help quite a bit.
• Does the end result taste delicious:  If by “delicious” you mean “24 bars were devoured by 1.5 people in 3 hours…then Yes.  They were DELICIOUS!
• Would I make it again:  This is going to be added to my “Make Often” file, absolutely.

Lemon Bars
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Crust (mix together first and then bake while you mix the filling)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, softened slightly
1/4 cup powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
1/2 tsp salt

Mix with an electric mixer and spread/press into a greased 9×13 glass pan.
Bake for 15 minutes.

 (I love, love, LOVE my lemon juicer.  Ditto on on my lime juicer.) 

Filling
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
zest from 1 lemon
1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

Mix flour and sugar together first, then add the rest and beat until combined & creamy, but not frothy.  Pour over hot crust and bake 25 minutes. 

Sift powdered sugar over the top while still hot, let cool about an hour before cutting into bars.  Proceed to devour, without question or explanation.

Mmmm. Lemon Bars. I love them. For some reason my freak husband does not. I suppose the fact that he prefers to eat the lemons just plain by themselves is part of the reason. The bars are probably just too sweet.

Comment by eatsandtreats 2008 August 20 @ 4:57 am

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I love lemon squares! Going to try this soon!

Comment by Elle 2008 August 20 @ 6:03 am

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OMG this looks delicious. And it reminds me that I need to post my WIU recipe. I made it the other day but the photos are still just sitting on my camera.

Comment by Jess 2008 August 20 @ 6:26 am

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I LOVE lemon bars. In fact, I served them at my wedding, and I didn’t even get any!

Comment by Britt 2008 August 20 @ 6:54 am

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I love lemon bars, but I need to make them for events so that I don’t eat the whole pan by myself. That is what they call discipline, waiting for a party.

Comment by RA 2008 August 20 @ 7:06 am

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That looks so very good. I haven’t had a quality lemon bar in a very long time.

Comment by Noelle 2008 August 20 @ 8:19 am

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These are so nice and easy to make, the lemony taste is just perfect.

Comment by Pia 2008 August 20 @ 8:36 am

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Mmmmm nom nom nom nom nom!

::wipes powdered sugar and lemon goo from face::

Comment by Sra 2008 August 20 @ 9:19 am

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oh man those look delicious. send some my way please

Comment by katelin 2008 August 20 @ 11:51 am

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I love lemon bars! I may have to make some ASAP!

Comment by Erin 2008 August 20 @ 12:32 pm

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I loooooooove lemons. And lemon bars. All things lemon, really. YUM.

Comment by janet 2008 August 20 @ 6:50 pm

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I adore lemon bars! Yum!

What is the difference between the lime- and lemon-juicers? I have seen them in the stores and wondered why anyone would need both. Fill me in!

Comment by Laurel 2008 August 22 @ 6:35 pm

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