 Lemon bar wrapped in parchment paper | |
| Alternative names | Lemon square |
|---|---|
| Type | Dessert Bar |
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | Lemon curd, shortbread |
| Variations | Many variations exist |
The lemon bar, also called lemon square, is a popular type of dessert bar in the United States consisting of a thin shortbread crust and a lemon curd filling. [1]
The first widely published lemon bar recipe was printed in the Chicago Daily Tribune on August 27, 1962, and submitted by Eleanor Mickelson. [2] [3] [4] However, mentions of lemon bars and lemon squares can be found in earlier community cookbooks or small local newspapers. [5] [6] [7]
There are two basic elements to a lemon bar, lemon curd and shortbread, each with their own unique history.
Lemon curd dates back to 19th century England. [8] [9] However, early lemon curd was different than the lemon curd used today, such as in lemon bars. Instead, it consisted of acidic cream that formed curds and then was drained through a cheesecloth to separate out the whey. [9]
Shortbread originated in Scotland as far back as the 12th century. [10]
Recipes vary slightly, but lemon bar recipes call for lemon juice, and many suggest fresh squeezed. [1] Other ingredients include butter, white sugar, flour, eggs, and salt. [11] Many recipes also list confectioners sugar, also called powdered sugar, for dusting on the top after the bars are baked. [11] Many variations of lemon bars also exist. [12]
Allergens in lemon bars may include: eggs, dairy, and gluten. [1] [11] [13] There are variations to accommodate for dietary restrictions such as gluten-free Lemon bars [14] and vegan lemon Bars. [15]
Krusteaz "Meyer Lemon bars" box mix lists 140 calories as prepared in one serving, a 2-inch bar. [16] There are also 3 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 20 grams of sugar, 90 milligrams of sodium, and less than 1 gram of protein in a prepared box of Krusteaz "Meyer Lemon bars." [16] Nutrition information will vary by recipe.
Lemon bars, as well as many other dessert bars are typically baked in the oven in a 9×13 inch baking pan. [11] Baking pans can be made out of many different materials, [17] and the material suggested may vary by recipe.
The bars are baked in two steps. [1] First, the crust is baked part of the way to ensure that it will not combine with the lemon curd and can support it. [1] Second, the curd is added on top of the crust and the bars are baked the rest of the way. Lemon bars are baked at a temperature below 400 °F to avoid over-baking. [1] [11] [13]
There are also options for lemon bar box-mix. [16]
After the bars are baked and have cooled, they can be cut into squares [1] or triangles. [13] They can also be dusted with confectioners sugar, whatever the consumers preference might be. [11]
Lemon bars are a popular dessert in the United States and are common at many different types of events. [1] There is even a National Lemon bar Day that occurs on October 15 each year. This day was created by Michael McCarthy in 2019 after he baked lemon bars for an event and many people had never had them before. [18]
In Hawaii, a popular variation of the lemon bar is made with lilikoʻi (passion fruit), where it is known as a lilikoʻi bar (anglicized as lilikoi bar). The passion fruit was introduced to Hawaii in the late 19th century where it now grows abundantly.
While fresh lilikoʻi juice is desired, the curd (also known as "lilikoʻi butter") is sometimes made with processed juice or concentrates in areas where fresh passionfruit is not available. [19] [20] [21] Chopped macadamia nuts are sometimes added to the shortbread crust to make it more "tropical". [22] Recipes using other tropical fruits exist but are not as popular include guava, mango, and pineapple. [23] [24] [25]
The original creator of the lilikoi bars is not known, but it may be a result of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement in the early 1990s started by a group of local professional chefs who advocated for cuisine which drew from local ingredients instead of relying on imported produce such as lemons. [26]
Dessert is a course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as candy, and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly savory to create desserts. In some parts of the world there is no tradition of a dessert course to conclude a meal.
Pastry is baked food made with a dough of flour, water and shortening that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as bakers' confectionery. The word "pastries" suggests many kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Small tarts and other sweet baked products are called pastries as a synecdoche. Common pastry dishes include pies, tarts, quiches, croissants, and pasties.
Brazilian cuisine is the set of cooking practices and traditions of Brazil, and is characterized by European, Amerindian, African, and Asian influences. It varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's mix of native and immigrant populations, and its continental size as well. This has created a national cuisine marked by the preservation of regional differences.
An apple pie is a fruit pie in which the principal filling ingredient is apples. Apple pie is often served with whipped cream, ice cream, custard or cheddar cheese. It is generally double-crusted, with pastry both above and below the filling; the upper crust may be solid or latticed. The bottom crust may be baked separately ("blind") to prevent it from getting soggy. Deep-dish apple pie often has a top crust only. Tarte Tatin is baked with the crust on top, but served with it on the bottom.
Passiflora edulis, commonly known as passion fruit, is a vine species of passion flower native to southern Brazil. It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas for its sweet, seedy fruit. The fruit is a pepo, a type of berry, round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds. The fruit is both eaten and juiced, with the juice often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma.
Lemon meringue pie is a dessert pie consisting of a shortened pastry base filled with lemon curd and topped with meringue.
Cheesecake is a sweet dessert made with a soft fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar. It may have a crust or base made from crushed cookies, graham crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake. Cheesecake may be baked or unbaked, and is usually refrigerated.
Shortcake generally refers to a dessert with a crumbly scone-like texture. There are multiple variations of shortcake, most of which are served with fruit and cream. One of the most popular is strawberry shortcake, which is typically served with whipped cream. Other variations common in the UK are blackberry and clotted cream shortcake and lemon berry shortcake, which is served with lemon curd in place of cream.
Chess pie is a dessert with a filling composed mainly of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and sometimes milk, characteristic of Southern United States cuisine. It is similar to pecan pie without any nuts.
Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine is the typical and traditional fare of the Pennsylvania Dutch. According to one writer, "If you had to make a short list of regions in the United States where regional food is actually consumed on a daily basis, the land of the Pennsylvania Dutch—in and around Lancaster County, Pennsylvania—would be at or near the top of that list," mainly because the area is a cultural enclave of Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Fruit curd is a dessert spread and topping usually made with citrus fruit, such as lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit or tangerine. Other flavor variations include passion fruit, mango, and berries such as raspberries, cranberries or blackberries.
A baked apple is a dish consisting of an apple baked in an oven until it has become soft. The core is usually removed and the resulting cavity stuffed with sweet or savory fillings and seasonings. Pears and quinces may be prepared in the same way.
Sweet potato pie is a traditional dessert, originating in the Southern United States among the African American community. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas in place of pumpkin pie, which is more traditional in other regions of the United States.
Caramel shortbread, also known as caramel squares, caramel slice, millionaire's shortbread, millionaire's slice, chocolate caramel shortbread, and Wellington squares is a biscuit confectionery item composed of a rectangular, triangular or circular shortbread biscuit base topped with caramel and milk chocolate. Variations exist which substitute or add ingredients to cater to different tastes, dietary requirements or ingredient availability.
A lemon tart is a dessert dish, a variety of tart. It has a pastry shell with a lemon flavored filling.
Pie in American cuisine has roots in English cuisine and has evolved over centuries to adapt to American cultural tastes and ingredients. The creation of flaky pie crust shortened with lard is credited to American innovation.
