Zesty Grapefruit Bars with Buttery Crust (Printable)
Buttery shortbread crust topped with bright, tangy grapefruit custard filling. Perfectly sweet-tart citrus bars ideal for warm weather serving.
# What You Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - ½ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - ¼ teaspoon 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 tablespoon grapefruit zest
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Finishing
11 - Powdered sugar for dusting
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined and the dough forms crumbs.
03 - Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
04 - While crust bakes, whisk together sugar and flour in a separate bowl. Add eggs, grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, and lemon juice. Whisk until completely smooth and well combined.
05 - Pour the filling over the hot crust immediately after removing from the oven. Return to oven and bake for 18-22 minutes until the center is just set with minimal jiggle.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours. Once cooled, lift out using parchment overhang and cut into 16 bars. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between that buttery, crumbly crust and the bright, silky grapefruit layer is absolutely addictive
- They strike this perfect balance that appeals to both people who love desserts and those who usually find them too sweet
02 -
- The filling should still have a slight jiggle in the center when you take it out of the oven because it will continue to set as it cools
- Pouring the filling over the hot crust helps them bond together so you don't get a separated layer when you cut them
03 -
- Zest your grapefruits before you juice them so much easier to handle when they're whole
- If your grapefruit seems particularly tart, add an extra tablespoon of sugar to the filling