Description
Buttery shortbread crust topped with a bright, tangy lemon custard studded with fresh raspberries. Sweet, tart, and irresistibly sunny, perfect for potlucks, picnics, and tea time.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (1 stick/113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
Filling
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
To Finish
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Heat & Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment, overhanging two sides.
- Make the crust. Whisk flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter (pastry blender or fingertips) until sandy with pea-sized bits. Press evenly into pan.
- Bake the crust. Par-bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
- Mix filling. Whisk eggs and sugar until slightly pale. Whisk in flour until smooth, then lemon juice and zest. Gently fold in raspberries.
- Bake bars. Pour over warm crust. Bake 25–30 minutes until set at edges with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Cool & serve. Cool completely in pan. Chill for 1–2 hours for clean cuts. Dust with powdered sugar, slice into bars, and serve.
Notes
Fresh juice = brightest flavor; avoid bottled.
Fold berries gently so they don’t burst and tint the filling.
If berries are very juicy, toss lightly with 1 tsp flour before folding in.
For sharper edges, refrigerate before slicing and wipe the knife between cuts.
Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days; bars can be frozen (well wrapped) up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45–50 minutes (crust + filling)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American