Snack: Best-Ever Lemon Bars

Recipe by Michelle Marberry, Valley, AL One part tart and one part sweet, these luscious lemon bars have the perfect pairing of flavors.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Best-Ever Lemon Bars

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup plus 2 T. sugar, divided
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup 3 T. all-purpose flour
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice
Garnish: powdered sugar

Instructions

Stir together butter, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla and salt. Add one cup flour; mix just until incorporated. Press evenly into the bottom of an aluminum foil-lined 8"x8" baking pan. Place a rack in the lower 1/3 of oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, until edges are golden and center is lightly golden. While crust is baking, stir together remaining sugar and flour in a separate bowl. Whisk in eggs; stir in lemon zest and juice. When baked crust is done, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Pull out oven rack without removing pan; pour filling over hot crust. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes longer, until topping is puffed at the edges and no longer jiggles in the center. Set pan on a wire rack; cool completely. Lift the ends of the foil; transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars with a long sharp knife. Keep bars refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days. Dust with powdered sugar at serving time.