Poppy Seed-Lemon Bars
Description
The bright flavor of lemon combined with poppy seeds really kicks the traditional lemon bar up a notch, resulting in vibrant, fresh tasting, and pleasantly sweet bars.
Ingredients
•
cooking spray
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1/2 cup butter, softened
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1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
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1 tablespoon poppy seeds
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1 1/2 cups white sugar
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3 large eggs
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1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
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2 teaspoons lemon zest
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, or as needed
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2
Combine butter and confectioners' sugar in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour, salt, and cardamom; mix until just combined. Stir in poppy seeds until evenly distributed. Press dough evenly into the prepared baking dish with floured hands.
3
Bake crust in the preheated oven until edges are just starting to brown, about 18 minutes.
4
While the crust is baking, combine sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and stir until just combined.
5
As soon as the crust comes out of the oven, pour the filling into it and return to the oven.
6
Bake until filling is puffy and lightly browned around the edges, about 30 minutes. Place on a wire rack and cool completely before cutting into 16 squares. Dust lightly with confectioners sugar.