Sunny's Easy Lemon Sunshine Bars Recipe | Sunny Anderson
Difficulty Level: Easy
Makes: 20 servings
Nutrition Information per Serving (1 of 20): Calories 112, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Carbohydrates 13 g, Dietary Fiber 0 g, Sugar 12 g, Protein 2 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 101 mg
Total Time: 6 hr 50 min (includes cooling and chilling)
Preparation Time: 15 min
Certain desserts never fail to delight, and lemon bars are a timeless favorite. Bright, tart, and easy to make, these Sunny's Lemon Sunshine Bars are perfect for barbecues, showers, bake sales, or any time you want a cheerful citrus treat. The simple crust and creamy lemon filling come together quickly, then chill into a sunny, citrusy classic.
Ingredients
- Crust:
- 1 sleeve plus 2 planks cinnamon graham crackers, finely crushed
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Kosher salt, a pinch
- Filling:
- One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 5 large egg yolks, beaten
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- Kosher salt, a pinch
- Confectioners' sugar for dusting
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Prepare the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed graham crackers, lemon zest, 3 tablespoons melted butter, and a pinch of salt. Brush the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides for easy removal. Bake the crust until golden and set, about 1015 minutes.
- Make the filling: Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, beaten egg yolks, lemon juice, lemon extract, and a small pinch of salt until smooth. Pour the filling over the baked crust and return to the oven. Bake 2025 minutes, until the filling is set and the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and chill: Let the bars cool on a wire rack for about 1 hour, then refrigerate until fully chilled, about 5 hours.
- Finish and serve: Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into 20 (or 24 if you prefer smaller pieces) squares, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve.
