Best Grapefruit Bars Recipes

RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 inch square metal pan with non-stick foil or parchment.
• Combine flour, salt and powdered sugar. Cut in butter (food processor works well) until mixture is coarse and crumbly. It should be very dry.
• Press into pan and bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown around edges.
• Beat together eggs, sugar, grapefruit juice,and grapefruit zest. **Add more zest for a more "grapefruity" flavor.
• Whisk in baking powder, making sure you whisk out any lumps, then whisk in flour.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set.
• Cool completely, then sprinkle top with powdered sugar. Lift from pan and cut into squares.

GRAPEFRUIT BARS WITH CANDIED ZEST

Steps:

• Shortbread base:
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line an 8x8" baking pan, preferably metal, with overlapping sheets of parchment paper, leaving at least 4" overhang on each side. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor a few times to combine. Add butter and pulse until largest pieces are pea-size. Add egg yolks and pulse just until dough comes together in small clumps. (Shortbread can also be made by hand: Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl, then work in the butter with your fingers before mixing in the egg yolks with a sturdy spoon.)
• Transfer dough to prepared pan (you may find it easier to form the dough into a ball first, instead of working with clumps-entirely up to you!) and press into an even layer. If dough is sticky, use a piece of plastic wrap between your hand and the dough. Prick dough with a fork in several spots (this helps it stay flat as it bakes). Bake shortbread until edges and top are golden brown, 24-28 minutes. Let cool.
• Candied grapefruit zest:
• While the shortbread is baking, use a sharp knife to remove zest from grapefruit in 2"-3" wide strips (it's okay to leave some white pith attached). Slice strips very thinly lengthwise; save fruit for another use. Combine zest and 2 cups water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Drain immediately. Combine zest with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in the same saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zest is translucent and softened, 15-20 minutes. Drain, discarding syrup, and toss zest in a small bowl with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Set aside until ready to use.
• Curd and assembly:
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Vigorously whisk eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch in a large saucepan until smooth and sugar is mostly dissolved. Whisk in grapefruit zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla. Set saucepan over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly and making sure to get into the corners of the pan, until curd begins to bubble slightly around the edges and thickens, about 5 minutes. Simmer very gently, still whisking, 30 seconds, then remove from heat. Whisk salt into curd, followed by butter a piece at a time, whisking to fully incorporate after each addition. Scrape curd into pan with shortbread and smooth over crust. Top with some of the candied grapefruit zest (you probably won't need all of it; snack on any left over!).
• Bake grapefruit bars until surface of curd is set (the center will still wobble slightly when pan is gently shaken), 20-25 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill until very cold, at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight.
• Just before serving, slice grapefruit bars into 2" squares and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
• Do Ahead
• Shortbread can be baked 3 days ahead. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Grapefruit can be candied 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature. Bars can be baked 3 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

GRAPEFRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch square baking pan.
• Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and set aside. In large bowl, cream together shortening and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, then add in grapefruit juice and zest and blend well. Gradually blend in flour mixture.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly colored on top. Set pan on a wire rack to cool. Frost with plain, lemon or orange icing and cut into bars.

GRAPEFRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. For the crust, cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt and mix on low until just combined. Gather the dough together into a ball, and with floured hands, flatten the dough and press it into a 9 by 13 inch baking pan, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
• Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Leave the oven on and let the crust cool slightly while you make the filling. Resist the urge to make the filling ahead, and wait until the crust comes out of the oven.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, citrus zest, citrus juices, and eggs. Add flour and whisk until well combined, making sure there are no lumps. Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is just set. Let cool to room temperature before cutting. Cut into triangles and, with a sieve or dredger, dust with confectioners' sugar.