Lemon Bars on Brown Butter Shortbread

 

Another great recipe from the Tartine cookbook that my sister-in-law gave me! This lemon bar is really good even without the confectioner's sugar sprinkled on top. 

Tartine Bakery Lemon Bars on Brown Butter Shortbread (recipelink.com) (~Recipe from Tartine)

Ingredients

Yield: one 9-by-13-inch baking pan

 For the crust:

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (2 oz/55 g)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7 1/2 oz/215 g)

3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (6 oz/170 g)

½ cup pine nuts (optional; I did not use this)

 For the filling:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour (2 1/2 oz/70 g)

2 1/4 cups sugar (1 pound/455 g)

1 cup plus 2 tbsp lemon juice (9 oz/28o ml) (used juice from 3 lemons and store-bought lemon juice)

lemon zest, grated from 1 small lemon (used 1 lemon and a little more zest from a second lemon)

6 large whole eggs

1 large egg yolk

pinch of salt

confectioners’ sugar for topping (optional)

 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

 

To make the crust:

1. Sift the confectioners’ sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Stir in the flour. Add the butter and pine nuts (if using) and beat on low speed just until a smooth dough forms.

 

2. Press the dough evenly into the pan and allow it to come up about a 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Line the crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights.

 

3. Bake the crust until it is a deep golden brown, about 25-35 minutes. (baked 13 min and then rotated and baked for another 13 min. Then put it back in oven uncovered for another 4 min while finished making the filling.)

 

To make the filling:

1. While the crust is baking sift the flour into a mixing bowl and whisk in the sugar until blended. Add the lemon juice and zest and stir to dissolve the sugar.

 

2. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the whole eggs and egg yolk with the salt. Add the eggs to the lemon juice mixture and whisk until well mixed.

 

3. Once the crust is ready pour the filling directly into the pan (leave the pan in the oven while you do this to make it easier. Saw tip that crust should be hot when you pour the filling in). Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. and bake just until the center of the custard is set, about 30 to 40 minutes. (I baked 30 min)

 

4. Let cool completely on a wire rock, then cover and chill well before cutting. Cut into squares and dust the top with confectioners’ sugar, if desired. They will keep in an airtight container or well covered in the baking dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.