Talon IPA Lemon Bars
IPA and lemon-citrus go together very well, and this Talon IPA Lemon Bar recipe is an excellent way to showcase the pairing. I’ve usually thought lemon bars were a bit sweet, but the addition of Talon IPA to the recipe tone down the sweetness while accenting the citrusy bite. These bars were so good, we ate half of them warm, right from the pan, instead of waiting for them to chill!
(As usual, thanks to The Beeroness for her amazing recipe inspiration.)
Talon Double IPA Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup flour
1/3 cup powdered sugar
6 Tbsp butter, chilled
Pinch of salt
Filling
3 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup flour
2 Tbsp corn starch
1/3 lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best, about 2 lemons)
¼ cup Talon Double IPA
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Place the flour, powdered sugar, butter and salt in a large bowl and mix until well combined. This is easiest to do if you cut up the butter into smaller cubes first, about ¼ the size of a die. Using a food processor or electric mixer will also make the job easier.
Once combined, press the flour mixture into the bottom of a greased 8 x 8 pan. Chill the crust in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, then bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
When the crust is done, remove it from the oven and let it come to room temperature. According to the Beeroness, this helps keep the crust and filling separated and creates a nice clean line.
While the crust is cooling …
Place the eggs, sugar, flour and cornstarch in a large bowl and stir to combine. Mix in the lemon juice and beer, then pour the filling over the cooled crust.
Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes, until the filling has set and is slightly firm to the touch. Let cool a bit, then refrigerate for about 3 hours, until it can be cut into bars that hold their shape.
If desired, dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with lemon zest.
Tips
These really were quite good warm, almost like a pie. I think they would be excellent with some whipped cream.
Fresh lemons do taste best, and you can zest the leftover peels.
Serve with Talon Double IPA!