It’s not technically summer yet, but the weather seems to be turning that way. I decided it was time to switch to some summer flavors. Lemon always seems to signify summer to me. Despite my daughter’s hesitation, lemon and blueberry make a remarkable combination.

Blueberry Lemon Pie Bars (recipe from Fresh April Flours)

Prep time

30 minutes

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 30 minutes

Creamy and sweet pie bursting with blueberries and citrusy lemon on top of shortbread crust. In portable bar form!

Author: freshaprilflours.com

Yield

: 16 bars

Ingredients

FOR THE SHORTBREAD CRUST

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar (plus more for sprinkling)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
the zest of one lemon, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour

FOR THE FILLING

8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (or one 5.3 ounce container) Greek yogurt, lemon flavored
remaining zest of one lemon
2 teaspoon lemon juice
pinch of salt
½ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen, unthawed)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8″ x 8″ or 9″ x 9″ baking pan with foil. Leave an overhang on the sides. Set aside.
To make the shortbread crust: stir the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and half of the lemon zest together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until combined. Reserve ¾ cup of the shortbread crust and place in the refrigerator or freezer until needed. Press remaining crust evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18 minutes while you prepare the filling.
To make the filling: in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium sized bowl with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese on high until smooth. Beat in eggs, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add sugar, lemon flavored Greek yogurt, remaining lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt and mix thoroughly. Add flour and mix again until just combined. Gently fold in blueberries with a spoon or spatula.
Pour filling into crust and add a few blueberries on top of filling. Remove reserved crust from refrigerator and crumble over top of the filling (you may need to separate into crumbs with a knife or fork). Sprinkle with sugar (or Sugar In The Raw). Bake bars for 55-60 minutes minutes, or until toothpick placed in center of pan comes out mostly clean. Allow pan to cool at room temperature on a wire rack. When completely cool, chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
When bars are completely chilled, lift out of the pan using foil overhang and cut into squares. Top with lemon zest before serving. Bars can be stored covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Notes

Shortbread crust from Sally’s Baking Addiction