Orange Bars Recipe
These Orange Bars feature a crisp, buttery shortbread crust topped with a smooth, tangy orange filling. Made with fresh orange juice and zest, they offer the perfect balance of sweetness and citrus brightness, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.
12 Servings
Ingredients
For the Shortbread Crust:
- 1 cup 226g unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup 100g granulated sugar
- 2 cups 250g all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Orange Filling:
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup 150g granulated sugar
- ¼ cup 30g cornstarch
- ⅔ cup 160ml fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
For Garnish:
- Powdered sugar optional, for dusting
Instructions
Prepare the Shortbread Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring some overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, flour, and salt. Stir until the mixture forms a cohesive dough.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish, ensuring a firm and level surface. Use a fork to gently prick the dough in several places to prevent bubbling.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Prepare the Orange Filling
- While the crust is baking, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, orange zest, and almond extract in a separate mixing bowl. Ensure the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Once the crust has finished baking, immediately pour the prepared orange filling over the warm crust. This allows the filling to adhere properly and prevents separation between the layers.
Bake the Orange Bars
- Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the filling is set. The center should have a slight jiggle but should not appear liquid.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the bars to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, transfer the dish to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours to allow the filling to set completely.
Slice and Serve
- Once fully chilled, carefully lift the bars from the baking dish using the parchment paper overhang. Place on a cutting board and slice into 12 squares using a sharp knife, wiping the blade clean between cuts for precise edges.
- If desired, dust the bars lightly with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
To make these Orange Bars gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour in the crust with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Additionally, ensure that the cornstarch used in the filling is certified gluten-free. The texture may be slightly more delicate, but the flavor remains just as delicious.