Barrette al Limone

Method

1. To prepare Lemon Bars, start by placing the flour in a bowl, add cold butter cut into small pieces and work with your hands until crumbly. Then add sugar and egg, continue kneading until all ingredients are well combined and you obtain a thick, homogeneous dough. Transfer the dough onto a work surface, form it into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.
2. To make the cream filling, first melt the butter pieces in a small saucepan over low heat and let it cool slightly. Beat the eggs in a bowl with sugar, work with a whisk and add the lukewarm butter, mixing thoroughly. Grate the lemon zest and squeeze the indicated amount of juice, straining it through a sieve before adding both to the mixture.
3. Transfer the cream mixture to the butter saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring with a pastry spatula, being careful not to let it simmer. Add the cornstarch only when the mixture starts to thicken, whisk everything with a pastry whisk and continue cooking for about ten minutes more, or until the cream has become thick. Pour the cream into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it cool in the refrigerator.
4. Once the shortcrust pastry has rested, roll it out to about half a centimeter thickness. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, place a bottomless rectangular mold measuring 25×17.5 centimeters (approximately 10×7 inches) on top, and lay the pastry rectangle inside, removing any excess. Prick the surface with a fork and bake at 175°C (350°F) for twenty minutes. Once ready, remove from the oven and let the base cool completely, then retrieve the cream and spread it evenly over the pastry using the back of a spoon.
5. Bake again at 175°C (350°F) for half an hour. When done, remove the mold and with a smooth-bladed knife, divide the dessert in half: cut the two rectangles lengthwise and then cut horizontally three times to obtain twelve Lemon Bars. Transfer the squares to a serving plate, dust generously with powdered sugar, decorate with mint leaves and serve. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!