Lemony Buttermilk Bliss Bars - On A Blue Plate for Blue Monday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I love the contrast of these pale yellow bars on the cobalt blue plate. Its intensity is a lure that will draw you to the plate and the lovely buttermilk and lemon bars that are waiting for you to sample. The flavor of these bars is intense. If you prefer something with a bit less bite use less lemon zest or replace it with the sweeter zest of Meyer lemons. There are three predominant flavors in this dessert; buttermilk, lemon and butter and your palate will identify them in that order. Its hard to believe that anything so easy to make can be this good, but take one bite and you'll become a true believer. The bars take about 20 minutes to assemble and require about 35 minutes to bake. I urge you to try this one. You won't regret it.

Lemony Buttermilk Bliss Bars...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 2/3 cup
2/3 cup flour, plus 2 tablespoons
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely grated
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup buttermilk
Confectioners', for dusting

Directions:
1) Move a rack to middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Butter bottom and e sides of an 8-inch square baking pan.
2) In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together butter and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until creamy. Add 2/3 cup flour and salt and mix on low speed until blended. Spoon dough into the prepared pan and press evenly into bottom of pan. Bake until crust is golden, 15-18 minutes.
3) Meanwhile, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat eggs and remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar until blended. Add remaining 2 tablespoons flour, lemon zest and juice, and buttermilk; beat until smooth. Pour filling evenly over the baked crust.
4) Bake until top of filling is set and barely browned at the edges, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan set on a wire rack. Cut into 8 bars. To cut into even pieces cut first into quarters and then cut each quarter in half. Dust with confectioners' sugar shaken through a sieve. Yield: 8 bars.

Recipe adapted from Food Made Fast—Baking by Williams Sonoma.

I'm send this to Smiling Sally for her Blue Monday event.