Description
Strawberry-Lemonade Bars are a bright and refreshing dessert combining the natural sweetness of ripe strawberries with tangy lemon juice and zest. Featuring a tender, flaky buttery crust and a luscious, creamy filling, these bars are perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or any occasion where a light, fruity treat is desired. Easy to prepare and ready in under an hour, they offer a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Filling
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, pureed
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal later. In a bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and slightly firm.
- Make the Filling: While the crust bakes, combine the fresh strawberry puree, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and eggs in a separate bowl. Whisk until smooth and fully incorporated. This mixture creates the zesty and fruity strawberry-lemonade filling.
- Bake the Bars: Once the crust has cooled slightly, pour the filling evenly over it. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly jiggles in the center. Remove from oven and let cool completely to allow flavors to meld and filling to firm up.
- Chill and Serve: Chill the bars in the refrigerator for at least two hours before slicing. This chilling step ensures a rich, creamy texture and clean-cut edges for easy serving.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries and lemons for the best flavor and brightness.
- Keep the butter cold when preparing the crust to ensure a tender and flaky base.
- Do not overbake the filling; slight jiggle in center indicates perfect creamy texture.
- Chill bars completely before slicing to avoid crumbling and achieve neat slices.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal of bars and maintaining their shape.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Strawberry bars, Lemonade dessert, Summer treat, Fruity bars, Easy baking recipe