Does anybody else crave summery-flavored things in the dead of winter, or is it just me? I mean, sometimes you just need a bit of something bright to cheer up a heavy, snowy day. So at that times, I make lemon desserts!
Today, I've got a recipe for one of my favorite usually-summery-but-delicious-year-round treats, lemon squares! They only sound complicated, and are really super-easy to make. Eating one is like eating a ray of sunshine! ...Okay, well, maybe only to me.
Everything you need to know is after the jump!
The ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- Additional powdered sugar, to taste
- 2 tsp lemon zest**
The tools:
- An oven
- A 9 x 9 baking pan
- Two mixing bowls
- A large spoon
- An electric mixer
- A zester/grater**
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- If you are juicing lemons instead of using bottled juice: a cutting board, knife, and a citrus juicer
**If using lemon zest
How to make it:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the flour, butter, and powdered sugar together into a batter. Press into your baking pan; you want to cover the whole bottom of the pan. Make sure to press firmly! You want a crust that is about 1/2 inch high.
- Bake the crust for 20-22 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, beat together the granulated sugar, lemon zest (if using), lemon juice, baking powder, salt, and eggs on high speed for about 3 minutes. It should be very light, fluffy, and frothy.
- Once the crust is finished baking, take it out of the oven and immediately pour the lemon mixture over it.
- Bake about 25 to 30 minutes. When you can touch the center of the lemon square without leaving an indentation, you'll know it's done.
- Cool, and dust the top with powdered sugar to taste.
