Description
These Lemon Blueberry Shortbread Bars combine the rich, buttery texture of classic shortbread with bright lemon zest and juicy fresh blueberries. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, these bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors in every bite, making them a refreshing treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Base
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender and airy shortbread texture.
- Add Flavorings: Mix in the vanilla extract and lemon zest until fully combined, infusing the dough with fresh citrus aroma and depth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to evenly distribute the salt in the flour.
- Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough which could make the bars tough.
- Fold in Blueberries: Carefully fold the fresh blueberries into the dough, taking care not to crush them to maintain bursts of juicy flavor throughout the bars.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to ensure uniform baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating the bars are fully baked.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the shortbread bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 squares to help them set for clean slices.
Notes
- Use fresh blueberries for best results; frozen can be used but may release extra moisture.
- For extra lemon flavor, drizzle a light lemon glaze over the bars after baking.
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming with sugar.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
