Lemon Zinger Bars Recipes

LEMON ZINGER BARS {GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, SOY-FREE}

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
• Put 3/4 cup of the oats into a food processor (or blender) and pulse until the oats form a flour. Pour into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
• Add the dates and apricots to the food processor with the lemon juice and water. Allow the mixture to sit and soften for 30 minutes. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
• Add the remaining 2 cups oats and the lemon zest to the bowl with the oat flour. Pour in the date-apricot mixture. Stir until well combined, and then pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake until the edges become golden brown and the mixture feels firm to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove the baking pan to a cooling rack. When cool, remove from the pan onto a cutting board and cut into squares. Set the bars on the cooling rack to firm up a bit more, about 10 minutes.
• Store in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 1 week. To warm, reheat in a 375°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes.

SOFT LEMON-GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, ginger and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately remove to wire racks to cool.

SOFT AND CHEWY LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the butter, sugars, egg, lemon extract, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed, light, fluffy, and well combined, about 4 minutes.
• Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the lemon zest, honey, optional food coloring, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 2 minutes. I used 1 teaspoon gel food coloring; add drops or gel to desired shade. One teaspoon gel makes the batter quite yellow but it mellows slightly after adding the dry ingredients.
• Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the flour, cornstarch, optional salt, and baking soda (keep the baking soda in a nice little mound rather than sprinkling it).
• Add the lemon juice directly on top of the baking soda. It will bubble and foam, which means the baking soda has been activated and this is good; if your soda doesn't bubble it's old and expired. Beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
• Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form approximately 12 equal-sized mounds of dough, roll into balls, and flatten slightly.
• Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, up to 5 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
• Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet).
• Bake for about 10 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don't overbake or undersides could become too browned. Cookies firm up as they cool.
• Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don't use a rack.
• Optionally, dust with confectioners' sugar. Or, for increased lemon intensity, make the lemon glaze and then sprinkle with additional lemon zest.

THE BEST LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
• Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.

LEMON ZINGER BARS

Steps:

• Line a 12" x 18" pan with foil. Mix crust in food processor until it reaches cornmeal consistency. Press dough evenly into the lined pan. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Turn oven down to 325° after removing crust from the oven. To make the topping, whisk eggs and sugar until blended, adding juice, tea and flour last. Pour topping over crust and bake at 325° for about 20-25 minutes or until center is fully set. Chill thoroughly before cutting the bars.