I’m back to reality this Monday. This past week/weekend has been a blur. I had my first big-kid art show last Thursday, and this was followed up with a whirlwind trip to Utah with Dave. We got back last night at 11:30pm and so now, I confess, I’m pretty much dead to the world.
(That is my subtle apology for any future grammatical errors or tyops 😉 )
So what better day to post a delicious dessert recipe that I wish I could be eating off of my screen? Oh yes, today is that day.
Before I get started on singing the praises of these to-die-for Raspberry Lemon Bars, I’m going to do a little shameless art plugging.
So, for anyone who hasn’t been following along, in my other (other) life, I am a painter. And by painter, I mean, I spent my high school years studying art intensively, then took a 12 year hiatus, and have gotten myself back into the game starting last year when I started teaching myself how to oil paint via YouTube videos.
I’m now enrolled in an oil painting class locally and I recently participated in my very first group show as an adult! I’m beyond excited. 
While I didn’t make any sales (yet! fingers crossed..), I was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement from friends who made it out to see the show, and family who sent me words of encouragement from afar. For anyone who is a creative type (as probably many of you are being bloggers and chefs), it’s such a vulnerable thing to put yourself out there and let the world see and judge your work.
And while I know that I still have a ways to go in terms of pushing myself artistically and creating a complete body of work, it still feels awesome to have accomplished one mini milestone on my progression as an artist.
So if any of you are painters or paint-lovers, feel free to check out my work over on my other website: Sarah Pai Fine Art.
And in the meantime let me get back to the meat (er… fruit) of this post- the Raspberry Lemon Bars.
So this recipe is adapted from one of my absolute favorite lemon bar recipes over on Once Upon a Chef’s blog. The crust is buttery, tender, and crisp. And the filling is the perfect texture and has just the right amount of tang.
I have been wanting to do something different with this recipe for a while and decided I’d give it a go making a raspberry version. And wow! I was totally impressed (as were my coworkers). The raspberry flavor is the perfect compliment to the tangy lemon, and adds a beautiful summer flavor that is just perfect for this time of year.
Dusting it off with a generous heap of powdered sugar and then immediately eating 3 in a row worked perfectly as my breakfast 😉
Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! (Now please excuse me while I stare off into space for the rest of the day until I collapse into bed at 6pm).
Raspberry Lemon Bars
Ingredients
_For the Crust_
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 stick cold butter cut into small cubes
_For the filling_
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice juice from about 2 lemons
- 1/4 cup fresh raspberry juice from about 1 pint of fresh raspberries *see instructions
- Powdered sugar for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter an 8x8 inch square baking pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Add cold butter, and using a pastry blender, mix until texture resembles coarse meal.
- (You may also do this in the food processor by pulsing all ingredients together until mixed).
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the baking pan.
- Bake until lightly browned- about 15-20 minutes.
Meanwhile prepare the filling.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the eggs, sugar, flour, and zest. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Add the lemon juice and whisk.
- Next, place a fine mesh sieve over a measuring cup. Add the fresh red raspberries.
- Using a spoon or a whisk, gently mash the berries until the juice extrudes through the mesh. You may need to scrape it off the underside of the sieve.
- Add 1/4 cup of the fresh raspberry juice to the filling mixture.
- Whisk all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- When crust is done, immediately pour the filling mixture into the pan.
- Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the filling is set.
- Remove, and let rest on a cooling rack until cooled. Then, refrigerate.
- Cut after the bar are chilled (they will hold up much better once chilled).
- Remove bars from pan and dust with powdered sugar (optional).
I have checked out your art and it is beautiful. You are so creative! I have no idea how you have time to take classes, paint and run your blog!
Haha thanks Karen! I’m not sure I really do have the time.. it seems like I’m having trouble keeping up these days lol.
Congratulations on your first show! How exciting 🙂 Your work is beautiful and I have absolutely no doubt you will have your first sale soon! Love these bars, too. That colour is lovely.
Thanks Jennifer! So happy you checked out my art site 🙂
I love the colour of these. I’m so happy your first show went well. Carry on enjoying your painting!
Thanks Tandy!
They look absolutely mouthwatering!
And they were 😉
I have never eaten raspberry lemon bars but looking at these I am sure I would love them! I wish you good luck with your painting and lots of sales in the future! I always dreamed about being a painter (if I had the talent) but wouldn’t have the patience to finish the paintings 🙂 How long does one take you?
I hadn’t had them either! It’s definitely a great flavor combo and a little more unique than just the standard lemon bars.
And re: painting- definitely takes a lot of time, but I really enjoy it! Probably would say each painting takes between 5-7 days and usually I paint in 2-4 hour increments, if that gives you an idea. Depends on the size, complexity, and luck 😉
Wow! Now I would loose my patience after 1 hour I’d say. 🙂
Once you get into it the time flies!! You think it’s only been an hour and it’s actually been 3… lol.
Congrats Sarah, that is amazing!! So so cool that you have taken up painting again 🙂 and these bars look gorgeous, love that you swapped out the traditional lemon for raspberry – their pink hue and that icing sugar dust are stunning!
Thank you so much Claudia! I had fun with these bars.
Congrats on your first adult art show Sarah! Sounds so exciting! If you’re as talented at painting as you are at cooking than I’m sure you’ll be an overwhelming success! These bars look and sound delicious. There’s nothing more refreshing and satisfying than a lemon bar. And with added raspberries? Perfect!
Thanks Mary Ann! It was so fun and I was really happy that so many of my friends made it out 🙂
A nice cup of tea would be so perfect with this one. Yum!
Yes indeed!! Or in my case, coffee! 😉