Description
These Ultimate Luscious Grapefruit Bars are a bright, citrusy dessert featuring a tender shortbread-style crust topped with a sweet yet tangy pink grapefruit filling. With their vibrant color and refreshing flavor, they make an elegant treat for gatherings or anytime you crave a burst of sunshine in bar form.
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (for crust)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for crust)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (for crust)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for crust)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (for filling)
- 1 tablespoon finely grated pink grapefruit zest
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for filling)
- 4 large eggs
- 2/3 cup freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (for filling)
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries (optional)
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
- Make the crust: In a bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla until crumbly. Press firmly into the prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Prepare the filling while the crust bakes: In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and grapefruit zest. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour, eggs, grapefruit juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth.
- Pour the grapefruit mixture over the hot crust. Return to the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the edges are set and the center jiggles slightly.
- Let cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours or until completely firm.
- If using the pink dusting, process freeze-dried strawberries with confectioners’ sugar into a fine powder. Sprinkle over chilled bars before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Chill the bars completely before cutting for clean slices.
- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice provides the best flavor, though bottled can be used in a pinch.
- Ruby Red or pink grapefruit is ideal for sweetness and color.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze tightly wrapped bars for up to 2–3 months and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
