Classic Lemon Bars

1. Stage

Prepare the pan and preheat the oven: Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper, leaving enough parchment paper to overhang the sides on the long end of the pan. You will use this to lift the bars out of the pan and cut them at the end. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2. Stage

Combine the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.

3. Stage

Add the butter: Cut the cold butter in cubes. Toss the cubes in flour. Pinch and smoosh the flour and butter together between your thumbs and fingers until the butter is coated with flour and broken into the flat butter pieces, between the sizes of smooshed almonds and peas. (Alternatively, you can blitz it in a food processor 6 or 7 times until the butter has a similar visual appearance.)

4. Stage

Bake the crust: Dump the crust into your prepared baking dish, press it down firmly it into an even layer with your fingers, and place in the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The crust is ready when it looks dry and is slightly golden at the edges.

5. Stage

When the crust only has about 10 minutes left to bake, make your filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolk, and sugar. Whisk in the flour until you no longer see clumps. Whisk in the lemon juice and vanilla.

6. Stage

Bake the lemon bars: When the crust has finished baking, remove it from the oven and pour the curd over the warm crust. Return to the oven. Bake for 12 minutes in a glass pan or 10 minutes in a metal pan. The filling is ready when it doesn’t jiggle and has lots of little bubbles on top. All ovens are different, so start checking 2 minutes before you think it’s ready. Don’t over-bake it, or the filling will be spongy.

7. Stage

Cool and cut the bars: Remove from oven and let cool for 1 hour, uncovered, either on the counter or in the refrigerator. Use the parchment sling to lift the bars onto a cutting board. Cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.