Classic lemon bars

These melt-in-your-mouth lemon bars are bursting with citrus flavour. Once you make these, you won’t be able to stop at one! These refreshingly sweet and lightly tart lemon bars are a classic Aussie favourite to have on hand for afternoon tea, or unexpected visitors. 

Many other slices can be too heavy, sweet, or rich, but the fresh lemon flavour gives these bars a lightness that mean you will go back for more. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 large eggs
• 2/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 drops yellow food colouring (optional)
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• Sifted icing sugar (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 175C.

2. For the crust combine flour and powdered sugar in mixing bowl. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. Press lightly onto bottom and partly up sides of a slice tin. Bake for 20 mins.

3. For the filling, beat condensed milk and eggs together until fluffy. Add lemon juice, flour, baking powder, salt and food colouring, beating until blended. Fold in grated lemon peel and pour over crust.

4. Bake for a further 20 to 25 minutes or until filling is set and crust is golden. Cool in tin, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Cut into squares and dust heavily with powdered sugar.