By now you may know of my obsession with Meyer lemons. So I’m sure it’s not surprising that as soon as I saw these lemon bars over at PreventionRd I knew I had to make them. Earlier this week I had two of my best friends, Tracy and Abby, over to help me with some research for my Catering company. To break up the actual “work”, we made these lemon bars. Nothing is better than baking with friends! These aren’t the cakey lemon bars that you may get from some mixes. These are oooey and gooey but just solid enough to cut. These made for a delicious treat that was tart and creamy and perfect for any day! Even better they come in at around 230 calories per bar which is always nice!

Enjoy!

Meyer Lemon Bars

For the crust:
1/2 lb unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour ( I used regular pastry flour, either will work)
1/8 tsp kosher salt

For the filling:
6 large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 Tbsp Meyer lemon zest
1 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice (or regular lemon juice)
1 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.

For the crust, cream together the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter and beat just until mixed. Put the dough on a well-floured board and form into a ball. With floured hands, flatten the dough into the baking pan. Chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes or until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack.

For the lemon layer, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Let cool to room temperature. Cut into squares or triangles. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. Yield: 24 bars.

Nutrition Information (per bar): 229 calories; 8.5 g. fat; 54 mg. cholesterol; 31 mg. sodium; 36 g. carbohydrate; 0.5 g. fiber; 2.5 g. protein