Lemon and Jam Slices

Sunday 28 October 2012

 
I had some lemons that I needed to use up today. I always buy too many. I just love the sight of a bowl of lemons on the counter top . . . I often pick them up and have a smell as I walk past. Lemons just look so cheerful to me, and homey.



I am very fond of lemon flavored anything.  I think if I had to choose between any kind of pie and a Lemon Pie . . . I'd take the lemon pie ever time!  And Lemon Cake, Lemon Loaf, Crisp Lemon cookies, Lemon pudding . . . you name it.  I just love, Love, LOVE Lemon!

 

I decided to make some of my favourite slices . . . Lemon and Jam slices.  Or Squares if you would rather call them that.  I like to call them slices . . . sounds even more delicious when you call them slices.  A rose by any other name and all that . . .



I love these slices because they encompass three of my favourite things . . . a buttery, crisp shortbread base . . . sweet strawberry preserves . . . a tangy lemon topping.

 

Oh my . . . but these are heavenly bliss.  I love to enjoy them in the middle of the afternoon along with a hot drink.  They're so good.  These are the type of slices that you have  a hard time walking past without picking at them . . . and I confess . . . I can never wait until they completely cool before I dig into them.



You're supposed to wait until they are completely cold to cut them . . . but they are awfully good warm . . . just sayin is all.  They bring out the glutton in me.  The tang of the lemon is soooo very good with the sweet fruitiness of the jam . . . and that buttery crust.



Of course you could use another flavour of jam if you wished.  I just particularly love them made with strawberry jam.  Cherry, raspberry or apricot are all rather good too . . . and then there is wild blueberry preserves, another favourite of mine.

 

I confess . . . I sometimes use limes and ginger jam.  Those are awfully good too, especially if you add a little bit of ground ginger to the base.  Mmmm . . . mmm . . . good.



 *Lemon and Jam Slices*
Makes  15 squares
Printable Recipe

 A butter, almost shortbread type of base, topped with sweet strawberry jam and a tangy lemon topping baked on top.  Delicious.

For the base:
280g of plain flour (2 cups)
225g of cold unsalted butter (1 cup, or 2 sticks)
42g sifted icing sugar (1/3 cup)
1/4 tsp fine sea salt

For the jam:
6 heaped dessert spoons (about 3/4 cup)

For the Lemon topping:
281g of granulated sugar
the finely grated zest of one un-waxed lemon
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 TBS plain flour
3 large free range eggs
the juice of 2 1/2 lemons (1/3 cup)

Icing sugar to dust


Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4.  Butter an 11 by 7 inch baking dish,  Dust with flour, shaking out any excess.  Set aside.  (Alternately you can line with foil and butter and dust the foil, leaving an overhang to lift the slices out when done.)

Whisk the flour, icing sugar and salt together in a large bowl.  Cut the butter into cubes and drop it in.  Rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until you have coarse crumbs.  Press this mixture into the prepared baking tin.    Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, just until it is firm.  Remove from the oven.

Whisk together the granulated sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and flour for the lemon topping.  Beat in the eggs and lemon juice until smooth.  Set aside.

Stir the jam together in a bowl with a fork to loosen it.  Spread this over the warm base.  Pour the lemon mixture over top and return the pan to the oven.  Bake for an additional  25 to 30 minutes, until it is set and lightly browned.  Remove from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely before removing from the pan.  Dust with icing sugar.  Cut  into squares to serve.

12 comments

  1. OH, FUN!!! I love the sound of this!! You know I love lemon, and adore shortbread, and adding jam?? There is no way this could NOT be yummy!! Yum. So here's a question: You've been blogging for years. How do you come up with ALL these new recipes?!

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  2. Trop belle recette je te la prends merci ( tes photos sont superbes )
    Bon dimanche
    Sacha

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  3. April, I'm 57 and I've been collecting recipes since I was 9 and cooking pretty much full time since I was 12! xxoo

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  4. What a great recipe. I do the same thing with lemons, always a large bowl full on the table, they just add a nice jolt of sunshine.

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  5. oh my gosh Marie my mouth is watering just reading this, what a luscious combo!!
    Have a wonderful day Marie, and do not worry your pretty little head about the chickadee print another will magically fin its way to you, I promise,

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  6. Oh Yum! I think I will have these to celebrate our storm being over. :) I adore Lemon Bars (I'll eat the entire pan if not watched;) I put up some cherry jam that I think this would pair with & would look very pretty.

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  7. Hi Marie,
    These lemon square look so delicios..... I don't see the print button, am I just not seeing it? This is a recipe to be kept forever!
    Kerry In Canada

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  8. Oops! Sorry Kerry. It's there now! Thanks for pointing out my omission!

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  9. Marie these look so yummy! I see it has a thin crust on top, is that just from the lemon mixture cooking? I like fruit slices from the bakery and they have a crust on top, I wondered if this was the same or different? Hope I get time to make them soon! yummm

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  10. Mary, the top does brown, but it doesn't get hard like a crust on a pie or a cookie would. This is softer. They are delicious. I have had to lock the leftovers away as I can't keep my fork out of them!

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  11. They look mouthwatering. And it just so happens that I ave all the ingredients in my kitchen....I feel a spot of baking coming on!

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