Description
Zesty lemon pie bars crowned with strawberry meringue offer a delightful dance of tangy and sweet flavors. Creamy, crisp, and elegantly balanced, these bars promise a delectable journey through citrusy bliss that you’ll savor with every memorable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 120 grams (4.2 ounces) graham cracker crumbs
- 42 to 56 grams (1.5 to 2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
Sweeteners and Seasonings:
- 12 grams (0.4 ounces) light brown sugar
- 1 pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven to 350F (175C) and ready a 9×5 loaf pan by lining with parchment paper and applying a light grease coating.
- Craft the graham cracker foundation by blending crumbs with salt, brown sugar, and melted butter until uniformly combined. Press mixture firmly into the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 12 minutes until golden, then remove and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
- Create the lemon-elderflower filling by whisking together sugar, salt, cornstarch, egg yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, water, and elderflower liqueur in a saucepan.
- Cook the mixture initially on low heat until steaming, then increase to medium-low. Stir continuously for approximately 2 minutes until the filling thickens and becomes bubbly.
- Strain the hot filling directly onto the cooled graham cracker crust, ensuring an even distribution.
- Refrigerate the lemon layer until a firm skin develops, then cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly.
- Pulverize freeze-dried strawberries with granulated sugar in a food processor until achieving a fine powder.
- Prepare the strawberry meringue by whisking egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in a stand mixer’s bowl positioned over simmering water.
- Heat the egg mixture to 165F (74C), then whip at high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Fold the ground strawberry powder into the meringue, creating a vibrant pink topping.
- Spread the strawberry meringue evenly across the chilled lemon filling, creating a smooth surface.
- Slice into bars and serve immediately, storing any remaining portions in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Select high-quality, fresh lemons for the most vibrant citrus flavor in your filling.
- Use a microplane grater to zest lemons without including bitter white pith underneath.
- Ensure egg whites are completely free from any yolk traces to achieve perfect meringue stability.
- Stabilize meringue by gradually adding ground strawberry sugar mixture while whipping for smoother texture.
- Chill pan and utensils before whipping egg whites to help create more stable, fluffy meringue peaks.
- Replace graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs.
- Substitute some granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener in both crust and filling.
- These bars can be prepared a day in advance and stored covered in refrigerator for optimal flavor melding.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 107
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 26 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg