Zesty Grapefruit Citrus Bars (Print Version)
Buttery crust meets vibrant grapefruit custard in these zesty bars. Sweet-tart perfection for spring gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - ½ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - ¼ tsp salt
→ Grapefruit Filling
05 - 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
06 - ¼ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - ¾ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
09 - 1 tbsp grapefruit zest
10 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Finishing
11 - Powdered sugar for dusting
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
03 - Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden at the edges.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar and flour. Add eggs, grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
05 - Pour filling over the hot crust immediately after it comes out of the oven.
06 - Return pan to the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the center is just set and does not jiggle excessively.
07 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out using the parchment overhang and cut into bars.
08 - Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The filling walks this perfect tightrope between sweet and tart, never cloying, never puckering
- That moment when you dust them with powdered sugar and they look like frosted citrus clouds
- They actually improve after a night in the fridge, so they're perfect make ahead treats
02 -
- Pour the filling over the hot crust immediately, this helps seal the crust so it doesn't get soggy
- The center should still have a tiny bit of movement when you take them out, they'll firm up as they cool
- Room temperature eggs incorporate much more smoothly into the filling, avoiding any curdling risk
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients are your secret weapon for both crust and filling texture
- Zest your grapefruits before juicing them, it's much easier to handle the fruit that way