Lemongrass Bars with Coconut Shortbread Crust

By mariannefeldman

by Ivy Manning
from epicurious.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (about 3 ounces)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3 lemongrass stalks, bottom 4 inches only, tough outer layer removed, finely chopped (scant 1/2 cup)
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• Powdered sugar

Details

Servings 24
Preparation time 35mins
Cooking time 265mins
Adapted from epicurious.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation

For crust:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2- inch metal baking pan. Using electric mixer, beat flour, coconut, powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl until well blended, 30 seconds. Add butter; beat on low speed until moist clumps form. Press dough onto bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan. Bake crust until golden (edges will be darker), about 25 minutes.

For filling:

Meanwhile, place sugar and lemongrass in processor; pulse until lemongrass is finely ground, about 1 minute. Add lemon juice; process until well blended, about 30 seconds. Add eggs; process to blend, 10 to 15 seconds. Add flour and pinch of salt; pulse until smooth.

Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Pour filling over hot crust; bake until filling is firm, 22 to 23 minutes. Cool in pan on rack.

Cut lemongrass bars lengthwise into 4 strips, then crosswise into 6 pieces. Dust bars with powdered sugar and serve.

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