Super Lemony Lemon Squares

Emeril Lagasse

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2004

Show: The Essence of EmerilEpisode: Picnic Planner Show

Picture of Super Lemony Lemon Squares Recipe Photo: Super Lemony Lemon Squares Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 87 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 42 min
Prep
12 min
Inactive
50 min
Cook
40 min
Yield:
about 24 (1 1/2 to 2-inch) squares
Level:
Easy
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Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks), plus 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter
  • 1 3/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt plus a pinch
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice, strained
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons limoncello, or other lemon-flavored liqueur, optional

Directions

Lightly butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with 2 teaspoons of the butter and line with 1 sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Butter the top of this sheet of paper with 1 teaspoon of the remaining butter and then lay a second sheet of parchment or waxed paper crosswise over the first sheet. The parchment should be cut large enough so that the sides are even with the top of the baking dish; this extra paper will function as handles to help you remove the lemon squares from the pan later. Set pan aside.

In a large bowl combine 1 3/4 cups of the flour, 2/3 cup of the confectioners' sugar, the cornstarch, and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and mix thoroughly. Cut the remaining 12 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Using your hands, 2 forks, or a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer the butter-flour mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into an even 1/4-inch layer along the bottom and partly up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

While the crust is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake the crust until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.

While the crust is baking, assemble the filling by combining the eggs, granulated sugar, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl and whisking until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, milk, limoncello, and remaining pinch of salt and mix well.

When the crust is golden brown, remove it from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Stir the lemon mixture again, then pour onto the warm crust. Bake until the filling is set, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Grasp the waxed paper that lines the 2 longest sides of the baking dish and remove the bars from the pan by pulling up gently. The entire dessert should easily dislodge and come away from the pan. Transfer to a cutting board and, using a clean knife, cut into squares, wiping knife after each cut. Place a small amount of confectioners' sugar into a small sieve, and sprinkle the bars with the sugar. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, wrapped with plastic wrap, up to 2 days, until ready to serve.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 87 reviews

  • on February 01, 2012

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    These lemon squares turned out with perfect. I skipped the parchment paper step and just buttered my dish and the squares came out just fine. So yummy!

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  • on January 03, 2012

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    I found these lemon squares to be just okay. I did substitute lemon extract for the limoncello (a litle less than half the amount of limoncello called for and the lemon part itself had a nice, tangy flavor. They also needed about an extra 5-7 minutes in the oven to set up just right (not a big deal. What really left me disappointed was the crust. Maybe it's just because I knew it was there, but I could really taste the cornstarch. I felt like it overpowered any nice, buttery shortbread taste the crust might have had. My family still enjoyed them but as a picky cook I don't think I will use this recipe again (or perhaps will just try a different crust next time.

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  • on October 27, 2011

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    I'm an impatient cook. I doubled the recipe. I made the crust (only put it in the refrigerator for 15 min and then baked it (for 20 minutes - wasn't even close to being done but once I took it out I didn't want to put it back in. I thought about letting it cool for a bit but that didn't happen. Instead, I poured the lemon mixture onto the very under-done, hot crust and it immediately broke apart, mixing all together very unevenly. What I THOUGHT would be a total disaster turned out to be wonderful result. I put the mixture back into the oven for about 23 minutes and it turned out PERFECT. It came out a delicious, swirled type of lemon cookie. Put some powdered sugar on top and it was awesome. I think I just might make it like this every time. Yummy!

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