Best Creamy Layered Lemon Squares Recipes

CREAMY LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter paper.
• Make crust: Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add flour, and mix on low just until combined. Press dough into the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan; prick all over with a fork. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together yolks, condensed milk, and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over hot crust in pan; return to oven, and bake until filling is set, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
• Refrigerate until filling is firm, about 2 hours or up to 3 days. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares, and dust with confectioners sugar.

CREAMY LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Butter and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper (leave some paper hanging on two sides, it will help to remove the creamy lemon squares).
• Break up the graham crackers. Then, add them to a food processor. Pulse until crumbled. Add sugar and melted butter. Pulse one more time until combined.
• Add this crumble mixture to the prepared pan. Then, press this mixture firmly into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of the pan to create a crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let the crust cool completely in the pan.
• Make the creamy filling while the crust is cooling. Add condensed milk and egg yolk to a bowl. Whisk until smooth. You can use an electric mixer or use a whisker. Then, add fresh lemon juice and whisk until well combined.
• When the graham cracker crust has cooled, pour this creamy lemon filling into it. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the filling is set and the crust is browned. Let the creamy square completely cool in the pan on a cooling rack. You can also refrigerate the lemon squares after cooling to room temperature; it makes the creamy lemon squares firmer. Then, remove the lemon square from the pan using the hanging parchment paper, and place it on a cutting board. Cut the lemon square into 16 mini squares or 9 bigger squares.

MRS. FIELD'S TRIPLE-LAYERED LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Prepare the shortbread crust: Cream butter and sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer set on high speed. Add vanilla and mix until combined. Add flour and mix at low speed until fully incorporated.
• Press dough evenly into bottom of an 8- by 8-inch baking pan. Refrigerate until firm, approximately 30 minutes.
• Prick shortbread crust with fork and bake for 30 minutes or until crust turns golden brown. Cool on rack to room temperature.
• Prepare the cream cheese filling while the crust is baking: Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth in medium bowl with electric mixer set on high speed. Add egg and lemon extract and beat on medium speed until light and smooth. Cover bowl tightly and refrigerate.
• Prepare the lemon curd: Blend the egg yolks with cornstarch and sugar in medium non-aluminum saucepan. Place over low heat and slowly whisk in water and lemon juice. Increase heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Add lemon peel and butter and cool for 10 minutes.
• Assemble the bars: Sread chilled cream cheese filling evenly over cooled shortbread crust with spatula. Spread lemon curd evenly over cream cheese filling. Place pan in center of oven. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until edges begin to turn light golden brown. Cool to room temperature on rack. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour before cutting into bars. Dust top with confectioners' sugar.

BEST LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Process 2 cups flour, butter, and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges of the crust are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool crust to room temperature.
• Beat white sugar, eggs, 1/4 cup flour, lemon juice, baking powder, and lemon zest together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy; pour onto the cooled crust.
• Bake in the oven until custard is set, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool lemon squares completely; dust the top with more confectioners' sugar.