lemon curd bars

By á-10254

Ingredients

• lemon curd:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut up into cubes
• 3 eggs
• crust & topping:
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2/3 cup coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Preparation

Step 1

yield: 12 to 24 bars




prepare curd by whisking the sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and butter cubes in a small saucepan over medium-low heat (use number 4 out of 10 on your stovetop dial).
once butter is melted, whisk in eggs, one at a time, incorporating thoroughly. whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbles start to come to the surface; about 15 minutes. (*you must whisk the entire time, or the eggs might curdle and cook separately from the curd. if you are extra worried about it, just use the egg yolks instead of the whole egg, but if you are whisking the entire time, you should be fine.)
once the curd is thick and starting to boil, remove the pan from the heat, and let the curd cool slightly in the refrigerator until ready to use. (it thickens more as it cools.)
preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
set aside 1 cup of mixture for the topping; press remaining mixture onto the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9" baking dish. bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. cool for 10 minutes.
spread lemon curd over crust. in a small bowl, combine the coconut, toasted almonds and reserved topping mixture. sprinkle over lemon curd.
bake for an additional 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. cool completely on a wire rack. cut into bars. store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. these taste the best after they have been chilled.