Description
These Grapefruit Lemon Bars combine the bright, tangy flavors of grapefruit and lemon in a buttery crust, resulting in a delightful citrus dessert. Perfectly balanced with a sweet and tart filling, they are baked to a tender, slightly jiggly consistency and chilled before serving with a dusting of powdered sugar. An elegant treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 stick of butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
For the Filling
- Zest of 2 lemons (zest before juicing)
- Zest of 1 grapefruit (zest before juicing)
- ½ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (about 1 grapefruit)
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter an 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Line it with parchment paper leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
- Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, flour, and salt, mixing until a thick dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the prepared pan, including slightly up the sides to form a crust.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until it is set in the center and the edges turn lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow it to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the lemon zest, grapefruit zest, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lemon juice, eggs, flour, and sugar until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Add the Filling to the Crust: Pour the filling evenly over the slightly cooled crust, spreading the top smoothly to ensure even cooking.
- Bake the Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are set and the center remains slightly jiggly to the touch.
- Cool and Chill: Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool to room temperature. Then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours to fully set the filling.
- Serve: Once chilled, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang, cut into 8 servings, dust with powdered sugar, and serve.
Notes
- Ensure eggs are at room temperature for a smoother filling texture.
- Zest the citrus fruits before juicing to prevent difficulty in zesting.
- Chilling the bars thoroughly ensures clean slices and a firmer filling.
- Use fresh citrus juice for the best tangy flavor; bottled juice may alter the taste.
- Powdered sugar dusting is optional but adds a nice touch of sweetness and presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
