Lemon-Vanilla Dream Bars!!

So, I've probably mentioned on here before that Mr. Knightley is allergic to citrus. I therefore don’t usually use lemon/orange/lime/grapefruit and so on in my baking. Like in Mary Berry’s Very Best Chocolate Orange Cake- it was just a chocolate cake. It was for Mr. Knightley's office and I couldn't have him going in there and not eating any of the cake I made!! They would have thought it poisoned or worse horrible tasting…

Anyhow a few of my girl-friends and I have nights in where we all provide something for the evening. I always volunteer for dessert. Did I even need to tell you that? I mean come on, but I also use this as an opportunity to make things Mr. Knightly can’t or won’t (he is a picky eater) eat.

I love vanilla and lemon bars/tarts and key lime pies etc… so when I came across this less messy version of a lemon bar in Pure Vanilla by Shauna Sever it had to be made!  Everyone loved it! A soft vanilla blondie type base with smooth lemon curd swirled through the top. Who could ask for more?

Lemon-Vanilla Dream Bars

10 ounces (280g) white chocolate

6 tbsp (about 84g), unsalted butter, cubed

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ tsp salt

2 large eggs, room temp

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp vanilla bean paste       

1 cup all-purpose (plain) flour, sifted

½ store-bought lemon curd

Pre-heat oven to 350F/180C, line 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper with some hanging over for easy removal Melt 8 oz (225g) and butter in your preferred method, once melted stir in sugar and salt. Whisk in eggs one at a time and then whisk in both vanillas. Gently fold in flour using a spatula; when a few streaks of flour are left fold in the rest of the chocolate (2 oz./55g) and scrape batter into prepared pan. In 5-6 equal portions place the lemon curd on top. With a butter knife swirl curd into batter with a figure 8 motion. Bake for 25-28 minutes until toothpick comes out clean not dry. Let them cool completely before removing from the tin. When they are cooled just grab the overhanging parchment paper and cut into 12 bars or you know 6 depending on who you're serving! 

notes: Mary Berry’s Very Best Chocolate Orange Cake, Mr Knightley (Jane Austen's Emma) is my husband (not really my husband as he's a fictional character, but what I call my husband on this blog. It's fitting trust me.), I used Lindt Excellence White Chocolate A Touch of Vanilla for added vanilla flavor and I used my brownie pan not an 8x8 (would have been better with a thicker base, but really not complaining), I am sleepy, my thoughts on the book, buy the book UK or US, check out Shauna Sever’s website, and Quality Street’s are hands down way better then Roses, Hero’s, or Celebrations…fact.