Citrus Squares
Ingredients
Original Base
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup icing sugar
- ½ cup salted butter at room temperature
- ⅓ cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
Thicker Base
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tbsp icing sugar
- ¾ cup salted butter at room temperature
- ⅓ cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)
Lemon or Lime Topping
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon or lime rind
- ¼ cup lemon or lime juice
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ⅛ tsp or a pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp icing sugar for sprinkling on top once baked
Orange Topping
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp orange extract (optional)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ⅛ tsp salt or a pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp icing sugar for sprinkling on top once baked
Instructions
Base
- Dice butter into ½" square pieces, leave them on the cutting board to come to room temperature. In a large bowl whisk together the flour and icing sugar.
- Add the room temperature butter tossing in the flour until covered.
- Squeeze the butter between the tips of your fingers and thumb working it into the flour and sugar.
- Once the pieces of butter are smaller you can use two knives to cut the butter until most of the mixture is fine crumbs. Stir in coconut.
- Pour the mixture into an 8” by 8” square pan lined with parchment paper. Spread the crumbs until they evenly coat the bottom of the pan.
- Use an offset spatula, the bottom of a measuring cup or your hand to gently pat the crumbs down.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 25 minutes until golden. Allow to cool slightly on a cooling rack.
Topping
- In a medium sized bowl or a large measuring cup beat the room temperature eggs and sugar with a hand mixer until pale, thick, and the volume has almost doubled.
- Gently beat in the juice and rind, then add the flour mixture until just incorporated. If you like you can add food colouring at this point.
- Allow to cool completely.
- Once cooled sprinkle with icing sugar. Cut into squares, or if you want smaller pieces into triangles. Enjoy!