Recipe of the Week: Lemon Bars

Sweet and tangy, few desserts are as refreshing as our classic lemon bars!

Lemon Bars with Cheesecake Filling
Makes 16 lemon bars

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup gluten free flour
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup Key lime juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Garnish with lime or lemon slices

Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 8 inch square baking pan.

In a stand mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla, beating until blended. Add the gluten free flour and beat on low speed until incorporated. Press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and the powdered sugar utnil creamy. Add the egg, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat until combined. Cover and chill.

Combine the egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan; stir in 3/4 cup water and key lime juice. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons lemon zest and 2 tablespoons butter. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Spread the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust. Pour the lemon curd over the cream cheese filling. Bake at 325°F for 40 minutes or unil the edges are lightly browned. Let cool completely on a wire rack then cover and chill for 2 hours. Cut into squares and garnish with lemon or lime slices.

Tips
We used Jule's All Purpose Gluten-free flour mix in this recipe.