Lemon Bars

One of my girlfriends was hosting a dinner party last week and asked me to make lemon bars! I contemplated making a true lemon bar, complete with loads of butter and sugar, but then decided to make a lighter version of this decadent dessert.

The typical lemon bar has 250-300 calories, 10-15 grams fat, and 30-40 grams sugar per serving. My lemon bars have 150 calories, 6 grams fat, and 15 grams sugar. In addition, most lemon bar recipes have 36-40 servings, but my recipe makes 24 servings -- therefore you get a BIGGER lemon bar that has LESS calories! Call this a winning recipe!

Check out my Lemon Bar recipe below. Be sure to use fresh lemons! The strong flavor of fresh lemons disguises the fact that there is less sugar. These are a great spring recipe! Now go make some lemon bars!

Lemon Bars

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients

Crust

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cups butter (1 1/2 sticks)

Filling

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp flour

3 tsp grated lemon peel

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with Parchment Paper, extending the paper up the sides of the pan. 

2. Combine crust ingredients in a large bowl and mix until crumbly. Press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the crust is light brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.

3. Mix together filling ingredients. Wash the fresh lemons before zesting and mix into the filling. Pour filling onto the crust. Return to the oven and bake for another 20-35 minutes, or until the filling is set and the edges begin to turn brown. (I had to bake mine for 35 minutes).

4. Remove from the oven and let cool for an hour. Remove from the baking pan and continue to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, place on a cutting board and cut into 24 pieces. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Information: (per serving)

Calories: 152

Fat: 6 g

Carbohydrate: 22 g

Protein: 2 g

Cholesterol: 43 mg

Sodium: 52 mg