Adrienne's Lemon Bars

Adrienne brought in these Lemon Bars today. The entire office was ecstatic because, apparently, Lemon Bars are one of everyone's favorite!

They were delicious. Thanks, Adrienne!!

LEMON BARS
Gourmet | March 1999

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Hot Shortbread Base

1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes. While shortbread is baking, prepare topping.

Lemon Mixture

4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in lemon juice and flour. Pour lemon mixture over hot shortbread. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. and bake confection in middle of oven until set, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan and cut into 24 bars. Bar cookies keep, covered and chilled, 3 days. Sift confectioners' sugar over bars before serving.

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Adrienne said that she used to make the shortbread by hand, but that it is much more easily done in a food processor since the ingredients are better incorporated, yielding a less crumbly base for the bars.

Bon Appétit!