These straightforward raspberry lemon bars are a chunk of summer season in a gooey, fruity dessert bar recipe! Vibrant and creamy lemon curd layered with contemporary juicy raspberries on high of a nutty cookie crust is the most effective combo. Plus, I make these somewhat lighter.
Lemon bars are mild, contemporary, and begging for a spot subsequent to your cortado at brunch this weekend! Do this fluffy lemon loaf (higher than Starbucks!) and tangy lemon cookies subsequent.
If you happen to love lemon bars, wait till you strive them with raspberries. The tangy citrus, candy raspberry bursts, and buttery nutty crust? Complete improve. These raspberry lemon bars are straightforward to make and look beautiful on a platter. The combo of creamy lemon curd-like filling, juicy raspberries, and golden crust makes each chunk pop.
I’ve been making these for years, and so they nonetheless disappear sooner than the rest I deliver to a celebration, irrespective of what number of I bake!
When Life Offers You Lemons, Make Raspberry Lemon Bars
- Straightforward elements. Seize a handful of pantry staples, like lemons, flour, and a few contemporary raspberries, and, growth! Dessert (or breakfast) magic.
- Selfmade crust. I make a crunchy crust from scratch that’s half pastry, half cookie, stuffed with crushed walnuts. You may simply as simply substitute this with a graham cracker crust or one other cookie crust when you’d like.
- Any event. These creamy dessert bars are excellent for spring and summer season gatherings, Easter brunch, bake gross sales, or everytime you want somewhat sweet-tart pick-me-up!
Collect Your Substances
I’ve added fast notes and straightforward swap strategies for these lemon bars beneath. Don’t overlook to scroll to the recipe card for all the small print, adopted by a step-by-step recipe overview with photographs.
For the Selfmade Crust
- Flour – I take advantage of a mix of all-purpose flour and complete wheat flour for a nuttier taste and healthful texture. If you happen to don’t have complete wheat, use extra all-purpose flour. You possibly can swap each for a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix if wanted.
- Powdered Sugar – Evenly sweetens the crust whereas retaining it smooth and tender. Professional tip: You can also make powdered sugar by blitzing common sugar within the meals processor till it’s finer in texture.
- Chopped Nuts – I opted for walnuts. Pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts can be utilized as a substitute.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, to create a young, crumbly texture. Ensure it’s chilly. You may also use plant-based butter if wanted.
- Oil – Vegetable oil provides moisture and helps bind the crust. Canola oil or a light-flavored olive oil may also work.
For the Lemon Filling
- Dry Substances – Granulated sugar, plus a little bit of flour to assist thicken the filling. You possibly can swap flour for cornstarch if wanted (you’ll want about half the quantity of cornstarch as flour).
- Lemon Juice and Zest – Freshly squeezed lemon is greatest, however bottled works in a pinch. Keep in mind to zest the lemon BEFORE you juice it!
- Eggs and Egg White – The additional egg white lightens it up.
- Recent Raspberries – These bars prove nice with contemporary in-season berries or frozen raspberries, see beneath. You may also substitute raspberries with blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, or strawberries.
Can I Use Frozen Raspberries?
Sure! You should use frozen raspberries in these bars (no have to thaw them first), however they might launch a bit extra moisture. I prefer to toss frozen raspberries with somewhat flour earlier than stirring them into the filling. It absorbs a number of the stated moisture and retains the berries from sinking.
Suggestions for the Finest Bars
- Use contemporary lemon juice and zest. Belief me, you’ll style the distinction! You may also swap lemon for orange juice and zest for one thing completely different.
- Line your pan. For simpler cleanup and fast removing, line the baking pan with parchment paper.
- Don’t overbake. Test the bars for doneness on the earliest urged baking time, and bake till they’re set. Overbaking makes these lemon bars dry and crumbly.
- Cool fully earlier than slicing. Give your bars sufficient time to chill fully, not less than to room temperature, earlier than you slice into them. Ideally, chill them within the freezer for an hour or place them within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving.
- Double this recipe. If you happen to double the recipe to bake for a crowd, you’ll want double the crust and improve the baking time accordingly. Bake your raspberry lemon bars in a 9×13-inch pan.
- Add a topping. I often mud these with powdered sugar for a bakery-style end. You may additionally add a sprinkling of coconut, drizzle of white chocolate, or high these bars with a glaze (strive the vanilla glaze from my cinnamon donuts).
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For The Crust
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Prep. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Evenly grease an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray and put aside.
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Make the crust. In a meals processor, mix the all-purpose and complete wheat flour with the powdered sugar, walnuts, and salt; pulse to mix. Add the butter and oil; proceed to pulse till the combination is crumbly. Add chilly water and pulse till the combination resembles coarse meal.
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Bake. Switch the crust combination to the baking dish and press it into the underside of the pan. Pop it within the oven and bake for 18 minutes.
For The Filling
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Make the filling. In the meantime, in a mixing bowl, whisk collectively the sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, and one egg white till totally integrated and clean.
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Decrease the oven temperature. Take away the baked crust from the oven and let it stand for two minutes. Cut back the oven temperature to 325˚F.
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Assemble and bake. Prepare the contemporary raspberries over the baked crust. Pour the lemon filling over the raspberries. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or till the highest is ready.
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Cool and chill. Take away the bars from the oven and allow them to cool fully within the pan set on a wire rack. Then, cowl and chill them within the freezer for not less than 1 hour.
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Slice and serve. Place the underside of the baking dish in a bigger pan stuffed with scorching water so it is simpler to chop out the squares. Maintain within the scorching water for about 30 seconds. Sprinkle the highest with powdered sugar. Slice into squares and serve.
Energy: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 11g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
How To Make Raspberry Lemon Bars
These scrumptious dessert bars come collectively in a couple of easy steps, and so they’re completely well worth the chill time. Simply don’t overlook to cover a couple of for your self earlier than they disappear!
First, Put together the Crust
I take advantage of an identical meals processor technique to make my flaky pie crust. If you happen to don’t have a blender for this recipe, you’ll be able to crush the nuts up finely utilizing a resealable bag and a rolling pin, and lower the butter, oil, and flour into the dry elements by hand.
- Make the crust. In a meals processor, mix the flours, powdered sugar, nuts, and salt, then pulse within the chilly butter and oil to make a crumble. Lastly, add a little bit of chilly water and pulse till the dough begins to return collectively. It ought to seem like a rough meal.
- Press and bake. Now, press the crust combination into the underside of a greased 8×8-inch baking pan. Par-bake at 350ºF for 18 minutes. Afterward, let the crust cool for a few minutes.
Assemble and Bake the Bars
When the crust is out, scale back the oven temperature to 325°F to get it prepared for the filling.
- Make the filling. In the meantime, in a mixing bowl, whisk the sugar and flour with lemon juice, zest, eggs, and an egg white till clean.
- Assemble the bars. Scatter the contemporary raspberries evenly over your heat crust. Then, pour the lemon combination gently excessive.
- Bake once more. Afterward, return the pan to the oven and bake at 325ºF for 22 to 25 minutes, till set.
- Cool and chill. Let the bars cool fully on a wire rack. As soon as cool, cowl and chill within the freezer for not less than an hour to assist agency them up earlier than slicing.
- Slice and serve. For simpler slicing, dip the underside of the baking dish in scorching water for 30 seconds. Mud the raspberry lemon bars with powdered sugar, slice into squares, and serve!
How Do I Know When My Lemon Bars Are Set?
These raspberry lemon bars are completed once they not jiggle within the pan, and are simply barely golden across the edges.
How To Retailer
- Refrigerate. As soon as the lemon bars are fully cooled and sliced, place them in an hermetic container. Layer parchment or wax paper between the layers if stacking. Retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days. They’re greatest loved chilly or at room temp.
- Freeze. Place the sliced bars on a baking sheet and freeze till strong, then switch to a freezer-safe container or bag (once more, layer with parchment if stacking). They’ll preserve nicely for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving.
