Lemon Raspberry Bars (Printable)

Buttery shortbread crust meets tangy lemon and fresh raspberry filling in these easy bars.

# What you'll need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Lemon Raspberry Layer

05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
11 - 1 cup fresh raspberries

→ Optional Serving

12 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
03 - Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - Whisk together sugar, flour, and baking powder. Add eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest; whisk until smooth.
05 - Gently fold fresh raspberries into the lemon mixture.
06 - Pour filling over the warm crust. Return to oven and bake for 22-25 minutes until center is set and no longer jiggles.
07 - Let cool completely in the pan. For best results, refrigerate for 1-2 hours before cutting into bars.
08 - Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The buttery shortbread crust practically melts in your mouth while the tart lemon and sweet raspberry create this perfect balance that keeps you reaching for just one more
  • They look stunning with that jewel-toned layer peeking through but come together with barely any effort, making you look like a baking genius
02 -
  • The lemon layer might look slightly under baked when you first pull it from the oven, but it will firm up as it cools, and over baking makes it rubbery
  • Chilling the bars before cutting is not optional if you want those clean, professional looking edges instead of a messy crumble situation
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients for the lemon layer mix up faster and smoother, so pull your eggs out about 30 minutes before you start baking
  • If you want extra raspberry flavor, gently mash half the berries before folding them in to create those vibrant pink streaks throughout the filling

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