easy homemade dessert

The BEST Lemon Bars recipe! Lusciously creamy and bursting with bright lemon flavor, these easy lemon squares with shortbread base take minutes to prep and always wow the crowd. Better than the Pioneer Woman, Ina Garten, and Paula Deen combined!

Best Lemon Bars

unsalted butter ((1 stick))

all-purpose flour

whole wheat pastry flour

sugar

kosher salt (plus 1/8 teaspoon, divided)

lemon

large eggs (at room temperature)

lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)

baking powder

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Pour the butter over the top and stir to combine. The batter will be very wet. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan, building the crust 1/2 inch up the sides all around. Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until barely light brown. Leave the oven at 350 degrees F.

While the crust bakes, in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, rub the granulated sugar and lemon zest together with your fingers until moist and fragrant. Add the eggs, lemon juice, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. With an electric mixer, beat on high speed until light and well blended, about 3 minutes. Pour into the hot crust (no need for it to cool).

Return to the pan to the oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until the bars are set, no indentation remains when you touch the center with your finger, and your kitchen smells incredible. Let cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar. Cut into squares and serve.

Healthy Rice Krispie Treats made with peanut butter and coconut oil and WITHOUT marshmallows, corn syrup, or butter! Delicious, naturally vegan, gluten free.

Healthy Rice Krispie Treats

brown rice syrup

peanut butter*

coconut oil

vanilla extract

salt

rice

dark chocolate (for drizzling)

Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the sides like handles. Coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown rice syrup, peanut butter, and coconut oil. Stir and heat until smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt, then the crispy rice cereal, stirring until the cereal is evenly coated.

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. With your fingers or a rubber spatula coated with nonstick spray, firmly press the mixture into a tight, even layer. Let rest 30 minutes to set.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to add the chocolate drizzle, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, being careful not to let the chocolate burn. Drizzle over the top of the treats. Place the pan back in the refrigerator for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to set. Remove the treats from the pan with the parchment or foil handles. Using a very sharp knife, cut into squares and serve.

Soft and buttery Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars. Two layers of peanut butter shortbread cookie with a layer of sweet strawberry preserves in between.

PB and J Bars

unsalted butter (at room temperature)

Greek yogurt

egg (at room temperature)

peanut butter

white whole wheat flour

strawberry jam (or raspberry jam or other jam)

salted peanuts (coarsely chopped)

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving some overhanging on two sides like handles, then coat with spray again.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, Greek yogurt, and sugar on medium speed until pale yellow and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low, then add the vanilla, egg, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are well combined.

In a small bowl, stir together the white whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until the flour disappears.

Portion two-thirds of the dough into the prepared baking pan and spread over the bottom into an even layer with a knife or offset spatula. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Break small pieces of the remaining dough evenly over the jam (you’ll have some bits of jam showing through). Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the bars are golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then, using the parchment paper handles, lift the bars onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.

This super easy Candy Cane Fudge is the perfect holiday gift idea! Made with just five ingredients, this Christmas dessert is the perfect way to celebrate!

Candy Cane Fudge

white chocolate chips

(14- ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

peppermint extract

red food coloring

Line an 8&#215;8 dish with foil and coat lightly with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a heat-safe bowl placed over a pot of simmering water melt the white chips and sweetened condensed milk together, stirring very frequently. Remove from over the heat when the chips are just melted. Stir in the peppermint extract until combined, and then stir in the candy canes.

Add a drop or two of red food coloring and swirl it through.

Press the mixture into the prepared pan and chill for 2 hours until set.

Store airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Top 4 easy homemade dessert recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy homemade dessert recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Best Lemon Bars

Healthy Rice Krispie Treats

PB and J Bars

Candy Cane Fudge

Top 4 easy homemade dessert recipes from across the web

The most viewed easy homemade dessert recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Best Lemon Bars

Healthy Rice Krispie Treats

PB and J Bars

Candy Cane Fudge

The most viewed easy homemade dessert recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine