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Lemon Meringue Bars

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These tangy lemon meringue bars feature a poppy seed shortbread crust, a luscious lemon curd filling, and a perfectly golden, fluffy vanilla meringue topping. A sweet, zesty treat with a beautiful balance of flavors and textures!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Poppy Seed Shortbread Crust:

  • 113g unsalted butter
  • 52g granulated sugar
  • 26g powdered sugar
  • 160g all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • 2–4 tablespoons poppy seeds

For the Lemon Curd Filling:

  • 6 large eggs
  • 235g freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 220g granulated sugar
  • Zest of 6–8 lemons
  • 113g unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Vanilla Meringue:

  • 4 large egg whites
  • 220g granulated sugar
  • 1 scraped vanilla bean
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

  • Prepare the Crust:
    Line an 8×8″ square pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F. Combine all crust ingredients and press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and set.
  • Make the Lemon Curd:
    In a bowl, zest the lemons into the granulated sugar. Add the lemon juice, eggs, and salt. Whisk the mixture over medium-low heat until thickened and it coats the back of a spoon. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps. Stir in the melted butter until smooth.
  • Assemble the Bars:
    Pour the lemon curd over the cooled shortbread crust. Bake for 12 minutes or until the curd is set. Allow to cool, then chill for at least 4 hours.
  • Make the Meringue:
    Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, scraped vanilla bean, and vanilla extract over a double boiler until stiff peaks form. Add the salt and continue whisking until well combined.
  • Top and Broil:
    Spread the meringue over the chilled lemon curd. Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the meringue is browned and crisp on top. Let the bars cool in the refrigerator before serving.

Notes

  • For best results, let the lemon meringue bars chill for several hours to allow the curd and meringue to fully set.
  • Make sure the meringue is fully whipped to stiff peaks before broiling, to ensure a perfect texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://easyfoodflash.com/lemon-meringue-bars/