Description

Raspberry Lemon Bars are a perfect balance of sweet and tart with a buttery shortbread crust, a luscious raspberry-lemon filling, and an optional garnish. They are easy to make and a stunning treat for any occasion, offering a bright, refreshing dessert with a vibrant pink hue.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup unsalted butter (cold, cubed)

½ cup powdered sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

1 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1 cup raspberries (mashed)

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Optional: Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Optional: Fresh raspberries and lemon slices (for decoration)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Mix the crust ingredients: Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, and cold butter in a food processor or mixing bowl until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the prepared pan.
Bake the crust for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden. Let it cool slightly.
Make the filling: Mash the raspberries and strain them to remove seeds (optional). Whisk together sugar, eggs, lemon juice, zest, mashed raspberries, cornstarch, and flour until smooth.
Pour the filling over the cooled crust and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until set.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up before slicing.

Notes

For a mixed berry twist, try combining raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries in the filling.
For a coconut variation, add shredded coconut to the crust for added texture.
To make the bars vegan, substitute the butter with a vegan alternative and the eggs with a flaxseed or cornstarch slurry.
For a gluten-free version, swap the flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 180
Sugar: 23g
Sodium: 45mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 27g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 40mg