Ina Garten's Lemon Bars - Something Swanky Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze ina Garten's lemon bars? ›

Dust with powdered sugar before cutting into bars and serving. Store lemon bars in the fridge for up to 3 days (can also be frozen).

Reprinted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Copyright 1999 by Ina Garten, Clarkson Potter/Publisher.

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F).

Press the crust into the prepared pan and set it off to bake while you assemble the lemon filling. The lemon filling is a simple mixture of eggs, sugar, lemon zest (we love her), flour and cornstarch (to help set the curd), and a generous pour of fresh lemon juice. Whisk to combine. It's really that easy.

Yes, lemon bars freeze beautifully—they are even good frozen! To freeze the bars, let them cool completely and freeze the batch whole, covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, for up to three months. (The cut bars can also be frozen in a single layer.)

Underbaking: This is the most common reason for gooey lemon bars. The filling needs enough time to set, which can be tricky since oven temperatures can vary and the visual cues for doneness are subtle. Solution: Bake the bars until the filling is just set and no longer wobbles when you gently shake the pan.

The sauce has garlic, thyme and lemon, and has so much flavor," Garten says. "And the whole thing takes like 5 minutes to put together... The best thing about this is that it makes the chicken and the sauce at the same time." Serve it over rice or quinoa, and the grains can absorb all of the sauce, Garten recommends.

13 Bestselling Inna Garten Cookbooks in Order.

Alright: first things first- it's basically Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme Cake Mix, JELLO lemon instant pudding mix ( this is the SECRET ingredient I feel ), vegetable, eggs, & milk. There's a glaze too, made with powdered sugar, & lemon juice.

Seeing a thin whitish foamy layer of air bubbles on top of your baked lemon bars is completely normal. It is the air bubbles created from whisking the eggs rising to the surface during baking. Lemon bars taste the same with or without that layer and a dusting of icing sugar covers it right up!

How to tell if lemon bars are undercooked? ›

The most common reason for gooey lemon bars is they're undercooked. Be sure to bake them until the top is fully set and no longer jiggly in the middle. You'll also notice the edges will start to brown. Another reason your filling may be softer than you like is if you cut them before they're fully cooled.

Don't Over-Bake.

If you leave them in the oven too long, it can cause your bars to crack.

– It's best to use a glass or a ceramic pan. Because if you use a metal pan, the acid will react with the lemon juice and the bars will have a slight metallic taste. – Also, make sure not to overcook the filling because it may get a rubbery texture instead of a smooth and creamy one.

Separate bars with waxed paper between the layers. Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly. Label all packages with the name of the recipe and the date. Bar cookie, like all baked products, should be stored at 0°F or lower.

Can You Freeze Lemon Meringue Pie? The best way to freeze lemon meringue pie is without the meringue. Pour the filling into the pie crust, wrap tightly in storage wrap and foil, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then make the meringue and bake according to the recipe.

You can freeze lemon wedges or slices, lemon zest, lemon juice, or whole lemons. Always wash fruit with soap and water or a fruit and vegetable wash before starting the prep work for freezing.

I would say the best part is wasted! We're all about getting the most out of our ingredients, and much like cheese, egg whites, and wine, citrus zest can be frozen so you can have it on hand whenever you need it.