Lemon Poppy Seed Shortbread Bars Recipes

LEMON POPPY SEED SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Set oven to 300°F (set oven rack to middle position).
• Butter an 8x8-inch glass baking dish.
• In a bowl using an electric mixer cream the butter with 1/2 cup confectioners sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
• Add in zest, lemon juice (if using) and poppy seeds; mix until combined.
• In a small bowl mix together flour and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix just until combined.
• Press the mixture into prepared baking pan.
• Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until pale golden brown.
• Let the shortbread cool in the pan on a rack for about 10 minutes.
• Cut into 24 bars and let the bars cool completely in the pan.
• Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON POPPY SEED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Cream confectioners' sugar and butter together until fluffy.
• Stir in poppy seeds and lemon juice.
• Gradually add flour and mix well.
• Divide dough into 4 equal portions and roll each into a 4 inch circle on a lightly-floured surface.
• Transfer each dough portion to an ungreased cookie sheet; cut each circle into 6 wedges.
• Prick each wedge several times with a fork and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden.
• Cool for 4-5 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
• When cool, break each circle apart into wedges.

LEMON MERINGUE BARS WITH POPPY SEED CRUST

Steps:

• To make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, taking care to cover the corners as well. Lightly butter the foil.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, cornstarch, lemon zest and salt together. Add the butter and mix until well combined. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until deep golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Just before the crust is finished baking, prepare the filling: Combine sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl. Rub zest into sugar with your fingertips until well combined and fragrant. Add flour and salt. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks, followed by the lemon juice.
• When the crust is finished baking, turn the oven down to 300 degrees. Pour the filling over the hot crust and return the pan to the oven. Bake until filling is set, but just slightly wiggly in the center, about 23 to 25 more minutes. While the bars are baking, prepare the meringue.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the egg whites and cornstarch. Whip on medium-high speed until the mixture is foamy. With the mixer running, slowly add the sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, and whip until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and salt and mix briefly to combine.
• When filling is set, remove pan from the oven and switch the oven to broil. Carefully spoon and spread the meringue over the hot bars, then set it under the broiler until the meringue is deep golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the heat of the broiler. Keep a close eye on the meringue during this process. It can go from perfectly golden to scorched in mere moments. Cool completely before slicing and serving.

CHEF JOHN'S LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Place an oven rack into middle position in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Place 1 cup flour and butter in a mixing bowl and mash with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Mix in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; mash mixture together until mixture looks like a slightly crumbly cookie dough.
• Moisten your fingers with a little water and press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish. Use a fork to prick holes all over the crust.
• Bake crust on center rack in the preheated oven until crust edges are barely golden brown, 22 minutes.
• Beat eggs and egg yolks together in a bowl; whisk in white sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Add lemon juice and lemon zest; whisk for 2 minutes. Pour lemon custard over crust.
• Bake on center rack until custard is set and top has a thin white sugary crust, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Dip knife into very hot water, run around the edge, and cut into 16 squares. Dust cookies with 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar.

LEMON POPPY-SEED SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• In a bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the zest and the vanilla, add the poppy seeds, the flour, and the salt, and beat the mixture until it is just combined. Press the mixture evenly into a buttered 8-inch-square baking pan and bake it in the middle of a preheated 300°F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it is pale golden. Let the shortbread cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, cut it into 24 bars, and let the bars cool completely in the pan. Sprinkle the bars with the additional confectioners' sugar.