Lemon Bars

By charlotteh371

Ingredients

• For the Crust:
• Toast; Set aside 3 Tbsp:
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• Whisk Together; cut in:
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp table salt
• remaining toasted almonds, finely chopped
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, chilled
• Sprinkle with; Bake:
• 3 tbsp. reserved toasted almonds
• For the filling:
• Combine; whisk in:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• Add:
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 small or 2 large lemons)
• 2 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
• powdered sugar for dusting
• Garnish with:
• Lemon slices and mint sprigs

Preparation

Step 1

preheat oven to 350; line an 8" square baking pan with foil.

Toast almonds for the crust in a skillet over medium heat until lightly browned, 3-5 mins. set aside 3 tbsp. to layer on the crust; chop the rest to mix into crust.

Whisk together, flour, sugar, almond extract, salt and chopped almonds. cut in butter with a fork until mixture is dry and crumbly; press into prepared pan.

sprinkle with reserved almonds, pressing them into the crust. bake until edges are golden, 20-25 mins. combine sugar and flour for the filling; whisk in the eggs.

add lemon juice and zest. pour over warm crust and dust with powdered sugar. return to oven and bake until filling no longer jiggles in center; 18-20 mins. cool completely on rack. remove from pan by lifting foil by the edges; remove foil and cut into squares.

dust with more powdered sugar. garnish with lemon slices and mint sprigs.