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Lemon Meringue Cloud Bars

These Lemon Meringue Cloud Bars are the perfect light, tangy, and buttery dessert to welcome spring! They combine the best parts of Lemon Meringue Pie and Lemon Squares alike!
4.84 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American, French

Ingredients
  

Lemon Square Shortbread Base

  • 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 cup All-purpose Flour spooned into measuring cup and levelled with knife

Lemon Curd Filling

  • 1 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
  • 4 Eggs large
  • 3 Lemons

Meringue

  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
  • 4 Egg whites large
  • a pinch of salt

Instructions
 

Lemon Square Recipe

  • Start by preheating your oven to 350F (325F convection bake). Line a 9"x13” baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, use your clean hands to blend butter into ½ cup sugar and 2 cups flour until a mixture resembling wet sand forms.
  • Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the 9”x13" pan.
  • Bake for ~22 minutes or until edges are golden brown. While crust is baking, whisk together eggs, sugar, and flour.
  • Once crust is baked and removed from oven, whisk lemon juice into egg mixture and pour over the crust.
  • Return to baking pan to the oven for another 15-20 minutes or until set to a slight wobble
  • Allow to cool completely. If only want to make lemon squares, decorate with icing sugar, cut, and stop here! If making Lemon Meringue Bars, leave Lemon squares bare and continue to follow recipe instructions below!

Meringue Topping

  • In a double boiler (bowl over simmering water), combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar. (make sure bowl is not touching the simmering water, only heated by the steam!).
  • Whisk until mixture is hot to the touch and no longer feels gritty (candy thermometer ~135F ).
  • Remove mixture from heat and whisk on high until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over lemon bars.
  • With a hand torch or using the broiler setting of your oven (heating for 30s at a time) until the meringue looks nicely toasted.
  • Cut bars using a hot knife and refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

 
Have you tried this recipe!? I would love to know what you think! Leave a comment below! 🙂
Keyword brown sugar, easy recipe, lemon, lemon bars, lemon meringue bars, lemon meringue pie, lemon squares, meringue, simple, sweet
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