My mom and I recently had an opportunity to delve into the family recipe box and make the most deeeelicious lemon bars for Liv’s baptism reception.
My grandma has been famous for these lemon bars for as long as I can remember and they are frequently requested at family gatherings year round. In fact, she even made an extra large batch for our dessert table at our wedding four years ago – they were gone in an instant.
I took the lemon bars a different direction and packaged them in small yellow cupcake wrappers before topping with whipped cream and poppy seeds – the perfect dessert for an afternoon party!
I’m tempted to seal up this recipe in the family vault, but what fun would that be. Just don’t tell Grandma I told you ;).
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Grandma’s Lemon Bars
a
Crust:
2 c. flour
1/2c. powdered sugar
2 sticks butter
Mix all ingredients in an electric mixer until crumbled. Line a 9×13 pan with aluminum foil (be sure to extend up over the edges of the pan) and pat mixture into bottom of pan. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown at 350.
Filling:
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/3c. lemon juice
1/4c. flour
1t. baking powder
rind of one lemon
Mix eggs, sugar, lemon juice and rind together. Mix baking powder and flour together in a separate bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, pour on top of baked crust. Bake 20 minutes or until firm.
Wait until cool, then pull foil out of pan and transfer to a cutting board. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into small squares.
Optional: add a dollop of whipped cream and poppy seeds before serving!
Yum. Yellow cupcake wrappers from Michaels.
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More from the big day:
Of course I didn’t take a shot of the entire backyard, but one of my favorite little details included garland made from a variety of different sized paper doilies.
Kevin made a delicious lunch and everyone mingled in the new kitchen and on the remodeled outdoor patio.
Here we are back at the Church, Liv’s getting dressed into a Spenla family gown that is over 100 years old and was handmade in Czechoslovakia.
Don’t worry, we were gentle.
The ceremony was beautiful; a quite, sweet, clebretory event with our local priest in our local parish.
A favorite photo of mine! You may have spotted it in Liv’s nursery.
It was a beautiful day!
Janelle says
Such a beautiful post, Morgan – I don’t know how I missed this one! Your Grandma’s bars look beautiful, especially in the pretty presentation you created…the doilies are a fantastic idea & perfect for the occasion (I didn’t even realize they were paper at first!) Your adorable Liv in her baptismal gown, the photo is gorgeous!
I’m trying to recall which parish would be in your area. Perhaps Blessed Sacrament? Don’t mean to sound nosey, just trying to picture which church it is – it’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing your awesome photos. ;)
Morgan says
Thanks, Janelle! We baptized Liv at Sacred Heart in OB :).
PartyMom says
Congratulations on Liv’s baptism! Your lemon bars look and sound adorable, and that photo is incredibly sweet as well!
Morgan says
Thanks so much, Sherry, Jacinta and Randa! Thank you for such sweet comments!
~Morgan
randa says
you had me at “lemon bars”. i loved how you changed it up with the cupcake wrappers, whipped cream and poppy seeds- perfect for summer. that garland made from doilies is genius and your daughter looked so happy on her baptism day! what a blessing.
Jacinta @ modelmumma says
Ohh yummy, going to be making these this week!
All the photos are beautiful and your church looks amazing.
sherry hart says
Beautiful family! Love how you packaged the lemon bars…..so cute!
Sarah Gibbs says
oh scrumscious they look so yummy.
That has got to be the cutest baby ever so pretty
Morgan says
Hope you enjoy, Stephanie!
Thanks, Carolyn, it was a beautiful day!
~Morgan
Carolyn A. says
1) Homemade lemon bars = SO good! I’ll have to try your Grandma’s recipe now – thanks for sharing :)
2) So happy for you and the celebration of Liv’s baptism – welcome to the family of God, sweet baby! And your parish looks stunning! It reminds me of several old churches I’ve visited during travels to places – how blessed you are! Thank you for sharing the photos!
Stephanie says
oooh…thanks for the recipe. I’ll be making these for Father’s Day, I do believe. Darling photos of your Liv.