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Ghostly Lemon Bars Easy Creamy Halloween Dessert Recipe

Ghostly Lemon Bars

Spooky lemon bars with a festive ghostly topping, perfect for Halloween gatherings or cozy fall evenings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 220

Ingredients
  

Shortbread Crust
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
Lemon Filling
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar for filling
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice about 3–4 lemons
  • 2 lemons lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour for filling
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Ghostly Topping
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting
Optional Ghost Stencil

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish,
  • Parchment paper
  • - Mixing bowls
  • - Whisk
  • Fine-Mesh Sieve
  • Ghost-shaped stencil or cookie cutter

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add the 2 cups of flour, mixing just until a dough forms. Don't overmix; a few lumps are fine.
  3. Transfer the dough to your prepared pan and press it evenly across the bottom using your fingers or the back of a spoon. For an extra touch, poke it with a fork to prevent bubbling. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
  4. While the crust bakes, whisk together the 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, 1/4 cup flour, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Whisk vigorously for about 1 minute until smooth and slightly frothy.
  5. Once the crust is out of the oven, immediately pour the lemon filling over the hot crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
  6. Let the bars cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Then, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours (or overnight if you can wait). Chilling helps the filling firm up, making it easier to cut into neat squares.
  7. Once chilled, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and place them on a cutting board. Dust powdered sugar over the top using a fine-mesh sieve for an even layer. For the ghostly effect, place a ghost-shaped stencil on the bars and dust more powdered sugar through it.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 30mgSugar: 18gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.5mg

Notes

These bars are easy to modify for dietary needs. Swap flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, use plant-based butter for dairy-free, or replace eggs with flax eggs for a vegan version.
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