Description
A tangy, sweet, and buttery dessert featuring a crisp shortbread crust topped with a bright lemon-blueberry filling. These foolproof bars are simple to make, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, divided
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, and grease lightly.
- In a medium bowl, mix softened butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until creamy. Add flour and salt, stirring until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Blind bake the crust for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Remove from oven.
- In a separate bowl, toss blueberries with remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest.
- In a small saucepan, combine lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water. Heat gently until warm, then pour over the berries and stir.
- Pour the blueberry mixture over the hot crust and spread evenly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the filling is bubbly and set.
- Cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours before lifting out and slicing into squares.
- Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve.
Notes
Do not skip the blind bake step to prevent a soggy crust. If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them first. Bars must cool completely before cutting to set properly. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: lemon blueberry bars, shortbread bars, easy dessert, 4 ingredient dessert, make ahead dessert, berry bars, lemon dessert