Description
Delightful Blueberry Lemon Meringue Bars featuring a buttery shortbread crust, tangy lemon curd, and fluffy blueberry meringue. Perfect for gatherings or a refreshing dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Shortbread Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 tsp salt
- For the Lemon Curd:
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
- Zest of 2 lemons
- For the Blueberry Meringue:
- 4 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- For the Assembly:
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
- Fresh lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, combine flour, granulated sugar, cold cubed butter, and salt; pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press crust mixture evenly into bottom of prepared baking dish.
- Bake for about 15 minutes until lightly golden; let cool slightly.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk lemon juice, granulated sugar, eggs, and lemon zest until combined.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat; stir in cubed butter until melted and combined.
- Pour lemon curd evenly over cooled crust.
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold in fresh blueberries.
- Spread meringue evenly over lemon curd.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until meringue is golden brown.
- Let bars cool completely in baking dish.
- Optional: Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh lemon slices.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Use cold butter for a crumbly crust. Spread lemon curd and meringue evenly with a spatula. Customize flavors with vanilla or lime zest. Substitute raspberries or blackberries for blueberries. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour. For dairy-free, use dairy-free butter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg