raspberry lemon bars*

If there is one thing I love, it is lemon desserts! I would rather have lemon over chocolate! CRAZY I know. People are shocked every time I tell them this. This dessert is TO DIE for if you love lemon and raspberries (which is actually my very favorite fruit!). It is kind of sour and makes you pucker up just a little, but it is the perfect amount of sour-ness. Don't let this scare you, because it is good!!!

Raspberry Lemon Bars
from Two Peas and Their Pod

For the crust:
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
Zest of one lemon
For the filling:
2 large egg yolks
1-14 oz. can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
6 ounces fresh raspberries

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 8 by 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Stir until graham cracker crumbs are moist. Press crumbs into the prepared pan, pressing the crust mixture one inch up the side of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature.

Once the crust is cool, combine the egg yolks and condensed milk until well mixed. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir until mixture begins to slightly thicken.  Gently fold in the raspberries. Fold carefully so you don’t break the raspberries.

Pour the lemon raspberry filling evenly over the graham cracker crust.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until just set.
Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least one hour before serving. Cut into bars and serve. Keep bars in the refrigerator-up to five days.

*Note-use fresh raspberries and make sure you gently fold the berries into the lemon filling or you will have pink bars.

Serves 16

Pure amazingness! I am going to repeat something that Sarah (my best assistant) said to me today. "Have you ever been so excited for something you feel like you are going to explode?" Well - this is how she felt about trying these lemon bars and let me tell ya, neither she nor I was disappointed!

-alyssa*