LEMON CRUNCH BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
• While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
• Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
• Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners’ sugar over the tops just before serving.

Steps:

• Lemon Cake Pre-heat the oven. Rub some butter around the inside of a 1kg/2lb loaf tin or insert a baking liner. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl, stir to combine and set aside. Chop the butter into small cubes. Put the butter cubes into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and beat together until light and fluffy. Finely grate the lemon rind, add it to the bowl and beat it in. Beat the eggs one at a time, into the mixing bowl ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. Sieve the prepared flour to the mixing bowl followed by the milk and stir to combine. Tip the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the top. Bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked. Leave the cake in its tin. Lemon Syrup Squeeze the lemon juice into a jug, add more lemon or water, if necessary, to make 75ml liquid. Pour this into a saucepan, add the sugar and bring to the boil shaking the pan occasionally. Simmer gently for 2 minutes to make a syrup. Prick all over the surface of the warm cake with a BBQ stick or skewer, pressing right through to the base of the cake. Pour the syrup slowly all over the surface of the cake and leave to cool in the tin. Lemon Drizzle Icing Place a chopping board over the cold cake tin and invert it onto the board. Using a zester, peel some strands of zest from the lemon and set these aside. Squeeze the lemon juice. Measure the sugar into a bowl, add the lemon juice and stir to make the drizzle. Pour the drizzle over the top of the cake and spread it around the sides of the cake with a knife. Scatter the prepared strands of lemon zest over the cake. Leave to set before serving.