Strawberry lemonade bars are the sweetened up version of lemon bars. They are still tart like lemon bars, but have a mellow sweetness and a pretty pinky color. Make strawberry lemonade bars all year long with freeze dried strawberries.
It has been the spring of lemon bars. Ever since Mike told me that he always loved lemon bars, I have been making them on the reg. When the man who hates all fruit and veggies admits love of a fruit, you take advantage of it.
Part of me doesn’t think he believed I would actually make a dessert that was just for him. I called your bluff, Mike.
If it was for the kids, sure, I will make them anything they ask for because I am a weak, weak mother who gives in to her children. That’s besides the point.
You guys know me though. I get sick of things quickly. After making my classic lemon bars three times, I made Cindy’s pistachio meyer lemon bars. That was a nice change. Very smooth and dreamy feel to those bars.
I needed more change though.
Mike was all like, “Noooo just when I got you making lemon bars for every occasion you have to go and change it.” But, you know Mike. He can literally eat the same thing everyday and be totally happy.
Strawberry lemonade bars were created because my darling son, Jack, decided he could not leave Trader Joe’s without a bag of freeze-dried strawberries. I know what you’re thinking: “So what? It’s healthy. It’s a fruit.”
But, does said child actually eat freeze-dried strawberries?
NO!
So here I am, buying a bag of freeze-dried strawberries to prevent an in-store meltdown all the while thinking what am I going to do with these. I will say, I added them to morning cereal and even snacked on a few handfuls here and there.
I didn’t really make a dent in the bag though.
That is, until I made these strawberry lemonade bars. I will now be adding freeze-dried strawberries to my regular Trader Joe’s shopping list.
Until I get sick of them.
If you like these strawberry lemonade bars, go all in on strawberry lemonade with a strawberry lemonade Arnold Palmer.
Strawberry Lemonade Bars
A sweeter and prettier version of classic lemon bars that uses a whole lemon (minus the seeds) and freeze-dried strawberries.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter cold
For the Filling:
- 1 small lemon
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 1 1/3 cup sugar
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
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First, make the crust. Add the flour, sugar, and salt to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
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Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender to work the butter into the flour until it is the size os small peas. If you pinch the dough between your fingers, and it stays pinched it is ready for baking
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Add the crust mixture to the prepared pan. Use your hands to press the crust mixture into one even layer. Bake for 20 minutes.
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Slice the lemon into 1/4 inch thick slices. Remove the seeds. If the pith (the white part) of the lemon is rather thick, cut off the pith and the skin of the lemon before adding just the flesh of the lemon to the blender.
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Add the lemon, strawberries, and sugar to a blender. Puree. Scrape down sides as needed.
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Add the butter to the blender. Puree until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
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Add the eggs, cornstarch, and salt. Puree until smooth and combined. Pour the filling mixture over the crust and bake for 35 minutes. The inside should still be a little jiggly.
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Cool the bars completely in the fridge before slicing into squares.
