Zesty Grapefruit Citrus Bars (Printable Version)

Soft buttery crust meets bright tangy grapefruit custard in these vibrant bars. Perfectly sweet-tart balance for spring and summer treats.

# Ingredient List:

→ Shortbread Crust

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - ½ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Grapefruit Filling

05 - 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
06 - ¼ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - ¾ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
09 - 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

→ Finishing

11 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - Cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
03 - Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18–20 minutes until lightly golden at the edges.
04 - Whisk together sugar and flour. Add eggs, grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
05 - Pour filling over the hot crust immediately after it comes out of the oven.
06 - Return pan to the oven and bake for 18–22 minutes until the center is just set with minimal jiggle.
07 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan. Lift out using parchment overhang and cut into bars.
08 - Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

# Tips from hearthlykitchen:

01 -
  • The combination of buttery shortbread and bright grapefruit creates the perfect sweet-tart balance that keeps people coming back for just one more
  • They travel beautifully to potlucks and somehow taste even better after a day in the fridge
  • The crust stays tender while the filling sets into the most silky smooth custard youve ever had from a home oven
02 -
  • Pouring the filling over a hot crust is the secret step that prevents the bottom from getting soggy during the second bake
  • The center continues setting as it cools so removing them from the oven while slightly underdone is better than overbaked
  • Grapefruits vary in sweetness and acidity so taste your juice before adding it and adjust the sugar slightly if needed
03 -
  • Zest your grapefruits before cutting them in half for juicing so you do not struggle to zest slippery halves
  • If your filling seems too thick after whisking, let it sit for 5 minutes to hydrate the flour before pouring
  • A glass baking pan lets you monitor the crust color better than metal, which is helpful for your first batch

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