For this week’s Dessert Friday, we’re going with a classic: Good Ole Lemon Bars! Composed of shortbread and custard, this is a good recipe to practice foundational baking skills. And the final product tastes so good, you’ll have a dessert that will impress all your guests!

Speaking of foundational baking skills, is anyone else as addicted to Great British Bake Off as we are? We seriously cannot get enough! Paul Hollywood, eat your lemon-bar heart out!

Good Ole Lemon Bars
(Original recipe: Allrecipes)

Shortbread crust
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Lemon layer
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar

Place an oven rack into middle position in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter an 8×8-inch baking dish.

Place 1 cup flour and room temperature butter in a mixing bowl and mash with a fork until thoroughly combined. Mix in 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; mix mixture together until it looks like a slightly crumbly cookie dough.

Moisten your fingers with a little water and press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish. Use a fork to prick holes all over the crust. Bake crust on center rack in the preheated oven until crust edges are barely golden brown, 22 minutes.

Beat eggs and egg yolks together in a bowl; whisk in white sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Add lemon juice and lemon zest; whisk for 2 minutes. Pour lemon custard over crust.

Bake on center rack until custard is set, about 25 minutes. Let the whole dish cool completely. To cut into bars, dip a sharp knife into hot water, run around the edge, and cut into 16 squares. Dust bars with confectioners’ sugar before serving.