Blackberries have become a recent favorite and I've been making all kinds of blackberry desserts. First I make a blackberry lemon curd and then I used it to make these terrific Blackberry Lemon Curd Bars. Blackberries and lemons makes a fantastic combination and the creamy curd is great with the shortbread crust. Read on to learn how to make this delicious treat.
How to Make the Blackberry Lemon Curd Bars
These bars have two main elements: the blackberry lemon curd and the shortbread crust. While the shortbread is baking in the oven you cook the fruit curd and pour it over the warm shortbread crust.
How to Make the Crust
The crust is very simple to make. Prepare the pan as described in the recipe instructions. The dry ingredients are whisked together and then the melted butter is added. Use a silicone spatula to mix together until there are no bits of white flour left.
Press the dough into the prepared pan and bake until the crust in golden brown. The goal is to bake the crust so that it will stay firm under the curd filling. The curd is added to crust while both are still warm.
How to Make Blackberry Lemon Curd
I love fruit curds. Strawberry Curd was one of the first recipes I made for my blog. Since then I've added seven more flavors. Prior to making this blackberry lemon curd, I would have said that the Seville Orange Curd was my favorite and before that I would have said Lemon was my favorite. But now I can say that this Blackberry Lemon Curd is my favorite. That is until I make a new favorite.
This Blackberry Curd has 6 ingredients and is easy to make:
- Blackberries - fresh or frozen
- Lemon Juice
- Egg Yolks and Whole Eggs
- Granulated Sugar
- Unsalted Butter
Blackberry Lemon Curd is easy to make, very similar to lemon curd, but there is one extra step to remove the seeds from the blackberries.
Making the blackberry curd starts with 8 ounces of fresh blackberries. The blackberries are pureed and then strained through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the seeds. There should be about 3/4 cup of puree. The puree is combined with lemon juice.
Use the temperature to determine when the curd is done. The curd takes about 10 minutes to cook, but the temperature is a better gauge to determine doneness.
In a 3-quart saucepan combine the blackberry-lemon mixture, the sugar, eggs, egg yolks, and butter. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until the curd thickens and reaches a temperature of 185-190 degrees F.
Do not attempt to rush this recipe by cooking over a higher temperature and do not leave the saucepan unattended. If you have to walk away remove the pan from the heat.
Baking the Blackberry Lemon Bars
Strain the curd through a medium-coarse strainer into a bowl to catch any of the egg solids. Pour over the warm shortbread crust and bake until the curd is slightly firm and still slightly jiggly in the center.
Cool the bars until they are room temperature and then refrigerate for 2 hours. I find the bars are easier to cut when the curd is chilled.
When the bars are completely cooled you can dust them with powdered sugar or top them with a swiss meringue. I really like the sweetness of the meringue with the tart blackberry lemon curd filling, but it is completely optional.
I hope you enjoy these bars I know I did.
Blackberry Lemon Curd Bars
Ingredients
Blackberry Lemon Curd
- 2 cups (227 grams) fresh blackberries
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/4 cups (150 grams) white sugar
- 2 (100 grams) whole eggs
- 4 (80 grams) egg yolks
- 6 tablespoons (84 grams) unsalted butter cut into 6 pieces
Shortbread Crust
- 1 cup (141 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 tablespoons (114 grams) unsalted butter melted
Meringue Topping (Optional)
- 3 (90 grams) egg whites
- 3/4 cups (150 grams) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with aluminum foil, but taking two pieces of aluminum foil, folding it lengthwise so it is 8 inches wide. Fit one sheet on the bottom of the pan, pushing it into the corners and up the sides (overhang will help in removal of baked bars). Fit the second sheet in the pan in the same manner, perpendicular to the first sheet. Brush the foil with melted butter.
- Wash the blackberries and process them in a food processor. Pour the pureed berries into a fine mesh strainer and use the back of a large spoon to push the berries through a strainer. You should have about 3/4 cup of seedless blackberry puree.
Make the Shortbread Crust
- Whisk the flour, sugar and salt together until combined. Add the melted butter and combine with the dry ingredients until no specks of flour remain. Press the dough into the pan, and bake until it is golden brown, 18-22 minutes. Remove it from the oven and pour the blackberry lemon curd over the warm crust.
Make the Blackberry Lemon Curd
- While the shortbread is baking, make the fruit curd. Combine 3/4 cup of blackberry puree with 1/2 cup of lemon juice in a 3-quart non-reactive saucepan. Add 1 cup of the sugar and whisk to combine. Taste the mixture and depending on desired sweetness add additional sugar.
- Place the medium bowl with a medium-coarse strainer next to the stove. Add the whole eggs, egg yolks, and butter and place the pan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk, until the mixture is slightly thickened and registers 190°F.
- Strain curd through the medium-coarse strainer into the bowl. Pour the warm curd over the warm shortbread crust. Bake for 13 15 minutes until the curd is slightly firm, but still a little jiggly in the center. Remove it from the oven, let it cool to room temperature and then refrigerate for 2 hours. The bars are easier to cut if the curd has chilled.
- Cut the bar into 16 bars. Decorate with powdered sugar or a meringue topping, See the recipe below for the meringue topping.
Meringue Topping
- The meringue topping is optional, but a very tasty contrast with the tartness of the blackberry lemon curd.
- Bring water to a boil and then reduce it to medium low heat. Place the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and set over the pan of simmering water. Whisk until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F then immediately put the bowl on the mixer, attach the whisk attachment and whip at medium-high speed until the mixture is cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, about 5-7 minutes.
- Place the meringue in pastry bag with a star or round pastry tip and decorate the tops of the blackberry lemon curd bars.
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