Strawberry Lemon Bars

If you are looking for a dessert that is tart, sweet and screams springtime, say hello to these delicious Strawberry Lemon Bars! These are not your average lemon bars, infused with the irresistible sweetness of Amoretti Wild Strawberry Marbleizing Swirl, this treat will have you hooked on the first bite! Picture this: a thick, buttery shortbread crust flavored with Amoretti Vanilla Butter Extract that crumbles just right with every bite. The perfect canvas for the zesty lemon filling kissed with a swirl of real fruit creating a flawless blend of sweet and tangy. 

Whether you're chilling at a backyard barbecue, hosting a brunch with friends, or just treating yourself to a little me-time indulgence, these Strawberry Lemon Bars are here to steal the show. They're super easy to whip up, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the sweetness of life! 

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. Amoretti® Vanilla Butter Extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour

Strawberry Lemon Filling

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 cup Amoretti® Wild Strawberry Marbleizing Swirl
• Powdered sugar for topping

Directions

Shortbread Crust

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together your butter, sugar, Amoretti® Vanilla Butter Extract and salt until light and fluffy.
3. Add your flour and mix together on low until just combined. 
4. Line a 9x13 glass or ceramic baing dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhand to make removing the bars easy. Press your dough firmly into the pan, make it as even as possible and then bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned. 
5. Once done, remove from the oven and use a fork to puncture about half way through the crust (make sure not to puncture all the way through as this will cause your filling to leak from the bottom), this assures your filling will not seperate from the crust. 

Strawberry Lemon Filling

1. Sift together your flour and sugar into a large bowl then add in the eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest. whisk until completely combined. 
2. Pour the filling over the warm crust then using a spoon, drop the Amoretti® Wild Strawberry Marbleizing Swirl into your filling. 
3. Using a skewer or butter knife, gently swirl into the filling to combine. 
4. Put the bars into your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles.
5. Allow to cool to room temperature for about 2 hours and then placein the fridge to set for an additional 1-2 hour. 
6. Once chilled and set, lift the bars out of the pan, trim the edges, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar and garnish with strawberries. 
7. Serve and enjoy!