Lemon Bars

[JoM]

I've made these a few times and they're lovely!!
This is how they should look http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rInnB72mDU4/TcfjsAvGRbI/AAAAAAAAA4I/RDBBZrGVyOY/s1600/lemon+bars.jpg

Topping
210g caster sugar
3 eggs
100ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 teaspoons grated lemon zest

Base
290g plain flour
70g icing sugar
pinch of salt
230g unsalted butter
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

33x23x5cm baking tray, lined with greaseproof paper.

Makes about 12

Preheat oven to 170c/325f/gas 3

Put the ingredients for the base into freestanding electric mixer with paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Press the dough together with your hands and then press it evenly into the base of the baking tray.
Bake for around 20 mins, or until light golden. Leave to cool slightly. Leave oven on.

Put the topping ingredients into a bowl and whisk with a balloon whisk until well mixed.
Pour over the base and bake for around 20 mins, or until the edges are golden brown and the topping has set.
Leave to cool completely, then cover and leave in the fridge overnight. You can shake some icing sugar over the topping before serving if you want to but I never have.

[meriad]

mmmm, that sounds delicious

[Ally]

Oh thanks ever so much Jo..my dad will love these.

He adores anything lemony.

[Kaz]

Oh yummm so do I!!

[Weka]

I've made this tonight, but I don't think I mixed the topping up enough. Do you have to mix it like you making a pavlova? Or only for like a minute? Can't wait to taste it tomorrow.

[Kaz]

I think it is meant to be runny and soak into the cake Weka, but I could be wrong x

[Workingman]

I am thinking that once the sugar crystals have disappeared the mix should be OK...... and I am going to try these as soon as I get some lemons. I love citrus fruits so I guess that lime or Seville orange ones would be good as well.

[Weka]

Well it tasted fantastic, but I definitely had solid egg white in the topping. I think maybe beat it for 5 or so minutes????? But I've got "home grown" eggs and maybe the egg white is tougher than store eggs???? In my mix it definitely needed mixing more an I mixed for maybe 2 or3 minutes.

I'll have to give I another go. Both mums liked it too, which is good, as it was in their Mother's Day baskets. I disguised the egg white pieces with a healthy dose of icing sugar.