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Blood Orange Bars Recipe

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3.8 from 7 reviews

Delight in the vibrant and tangy flavors of Blood Orange Bars, featuring a buttery crust topped with a luscious blood orange filling. These bars offer a perfect balance of sweet and citrus notes, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

For the Filling

  • 2 Tablespoons blood orange zest (from 1 orange)
  • ½ cup blood orange juice (from 2 oranges)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • Burgundy gel food coloring, optional
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil and spray it with nonstick spray to ensure easy removal and prevent sticking.
  2. Make the Crust: In a bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and softened unsalted butter. Mix until a soft dough forms. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan to create an even crust layer.
  3. Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the oven and bake the crust for 25 minutes, or until it is lightly golden.
  4. Prepare the Filling Mixture: While the crust is baking, add the blood orange zest, blood orange juice, granulated sugar, flour, salt, and eggs into a food processor or blender. Pulse the ingredients until the mixture becomes light and frothy.
  5. Add Optional Coloring: If you desire a brighter, more vibrant hue reminiscent of blood oranges, stir in a small amount of burgundy gel food coloring into the filling mixture. This step is optional.
  6. Combine and Bake: Once the crust is done baking, pulse the filling mixture again for a short burst. Pour the filling over the hot crust evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
  7. Cool and Garnish: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top for a beautiful finishing touch.
  8. Storage: If not serving the bars on the same day, cool fully and refrigerate. When ready to serve, blot any moisture from the top of the bars before adding powdered sugar to keep the topping fresh and dry.

Notes

  • Using fresh blood oranges for zest and juice provides the best flavor intensity.
  • Burgundy gel food coloring is optional and mainly enhances the visual appeal.
  • Line the pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray to make removal of the bars easier.
  • Cool the bars completely before adding powdered sugar to prevent it from melting.
  • Store leftover bars refrigerated and blot moisture before serving to maintain texture.

Find it online: https://flavorspath.com/blood-orange-bars-recipe/