Baked Goods are Made for Sharing

Somehow a search for healthy kid's recipes led me to pink lemonade bars... they certainly are fun... but not so healthy. On second thought, I promised baked goods to a friend I'm visiting this weekend.... yep, Thursday night this is happening.

Hands-On Time: 15 minutes
Ready In: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: Serves 24

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter - softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups flour

Pinch of salt

6 large eggs

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup flour

Several drops of red food coloring

Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment or waxed paper.
2. Cream together butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Stir flour and salt together and add to butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms.
3. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Reduce oven heat to 325 degrees.
4. Blend eggs and remaining sugar until lemon-yellow and smooth. Add lemon juice, zest and food coloring until the color of pink lemonade. Add flour slowly, stirring constantnly so lumps do not form.
5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until firm. To check for firmness, give the pan a small shake -- if there is little movement in the center of the filling, it's done.
6. Cool completely and dust with powdered sugar before cutting.