Meyer Lemon Lavender Bars

I learned that the history of lemon squares doesn’t date as far back as I thought. The ingredients themselves were developed in Renaissance times.

Lemon custard was highly popular in this time period. Sugar was often sprinkled on food and shortbread crust had recently been developed. Although the main components of lemon squares — shortbread and lemon curd — were popular during the Renaissance, putting them together in a layered bar form did not occur until the 20th century.

*******************************************************************************************************

Ingredients:

For the crust:

8 ounces unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup lavender sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the lemon custard:

2-1/2 cups granulated sugar

6 large eggs at room temperature

1 cup Meyer lemon juice

zest from two Meyer lemons

1/2 teaspoon lemon oil (optional)

1 cup flour

confectioner's sugar for dusting

Directions:

For the crust:

To make the crust, in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and lavender sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about two to three minutes.

Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough begins to come together.

Transfer the dough to a 9x13 baking dish and using your fingertips, press the dough into an even layer that covers the entire pan.

Chill the dough for at least thirty minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 F.

Bake the chilled crust for twenty minutes.

For the lemon custard

While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. Whisk together the granulated sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest and lemon oil, if using, until combined.

Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth.

After twenty minutes, remove the crust from the oven and turn the heat down to 325 F.

Pour the filling over the crust and return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 30-35 minutes.

Dust the top of the lemon bars with confectioner's sugar while they are still warm.

Cool on a wire rack before cutting.

Notes:

To make lavender sugar, which is such a fun thing to have around, combine one cup of sugar with 1 and 1/4 teaspoons of dried lavender. You can use it in all kinds of baked goods or to sweeten drinks like iced tea.

You can also add lemon oil and zest to the filling for extra lemon power.

*************************************************************************************

Lifted this from:

Google Meyer Lemon Lavender Bars The Daily Meal