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Nana Vivian's Lemon Bars

Posted by Jenny on July 4, 2007 · recipe from Nana Vivian · filed under Desserts

Nana Vivian's, copied off the back of an old envelope before it got thrown out.

  • Makes16 bars
  • Prep20 min
  • Bake40 min
  • Oven350°F

What you’ll need

  • Crust:
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter
  • Filling:
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • Powdered sugar to finish

How to make it

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment.
  2. Mix crust flour and powdered sugar; cut in butter until crumbly.
  3. Press firmly into the pan. Bake 18–20 min until pale gold.
  4. Whisk eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, and zest until smooth.
  5. Pour over the warm crust. Bake another 18–20 min until set (no jiggle).
  6. Cool completely, then chill. Dust with powdered sugar and cut.
Nana's rule Real lemons or don't bother. And dust the sugar AFTER they're cold or it just melts and you'll be cross.

Jenny’s notes

I made these for the Fourth of July picnic the year I added them here, and they were gone in about eleven minutes. Uncle Ray alone admits to four.

— J.