Food is a pretty amazing thing, if you take the time to think about it. It nourishes the mind, body, and soul, and it has the ability to transport us to faraway places or times past that exist now only in the depths of our memories.
This recipe is one that reminds me of my childhood, a recipe that has been in my family for as long as I can remember. My mom would make it for potlucks or bake sales, but the events with which I most clearly associate it were the piano recitals. My brother and I both took piano lessons as children (and into our teenage years), and each year our teacher would hold a recital for all of her students.
My second recital (age 6)
Given what a food-motivated and food-centric child I was person I am, it should come as no surprise that one of my favorite parts of these recitals was the dessert reception afterward! Each family would bring something, and for several years, this lemon cherry dessert was our family’s contribution.
These bars are both cake-y and chewy at the same time, with a sweet (but not overpowering) lemon flavor and a pocket of tart, juicy fruit in the center. They’re pretty and dainty enough to serve at a shower or tea party (my piano teacher also hosted the occasional mother/daughter tea party recital), yet portable and finger-food friendly enough to bring to a picnic. They’re also very straightforward and easy to make – perfect if you’re in a time crunch or if an insatiable dessert craving strikes!
What are some recipes that remind you of your childhood? I’d love to hear!
Note: given that I have a freezer full of fruit, I chose to make the cherry and blueberry fillings from scratch (and I have provided the instructions if you wish to do so), but the original recipe called for canned pie filling, so you can use that if you prefer. After all, it’s easy to find at any time of year and it makes the recipe come together even more quickly!
- 1 cup butter or dairy-free margarine
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- powdered sugar (optional)
- 3 cups tart cherries, pitted
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sugar
- OR
- 2 cups blueberries
- 4 teaspoons (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon) water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup sugar
- For the fruit filling: in a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients for either the blueberry or the cherry filling, and toss until the fruit is thoroughly coated. Transfer to a skillet or saucepan and heat over medium until bubbly. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly. Let the fruit cool while you mix up the ingredients for the cake.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan (alternatively, you can use parchment paper).
- For the cake: in the bowl of a mixer or in a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing to fully incorporate each one before adding the next. Stir in the lemon extract, flour, and lemon zest.
- Using an offset spatula, spread the batter evenly in the prepared jelly roll pan. Place small scoops of fruit filling (about 3 cherries or the equivalent amount of blueberries) on top of the batter: 24 scoops total, 4 rows of 6.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake! The top of the bars should be pale yellow, not browned at all.
- Optional: sprinkle the top of the bars with powdered sugar while still warm. Cool before cutting (don’t worry if some of the fruit filling from one bar spills into the next).
^ My brother and I after another recital. I’m smiling, but I’m probably thinking something along the lines of “Okay, can we wrap up this photo session now? I’d like to go eat ALL THE DESSERTS.”
I was in the fortunate position to be able to taste a couple of those lemon cake bars mentioned above and can attest to the fact that they are absolutely delicious!
I’m glad to hear it! 🙂
Yummy!! I love that this recipe has been in your family forever, I’m totally bookmarking this 🙂
Family recipes are so much fun, aren’t they? Let me know if you try these!
This cake sounds so good! What a great way to eat as many as possible of the last fruits of summer. 🙂
Thanks! I’m always sad to see summer fruits go…but luckily, thanks to pre-made pie filling and/or frozen fruits, we can make these cake bars year round!
they look yummy!
They are indeed – thank you!
I can’t decide if I like the little pockets of juicy fruit in the lemon bars or your recital photos better 😉
Haha, why thank you! Both are enjoyable in their own way, I think 😉
Loving these cake bars and especially loving that fruit filling! I’d eat a few for sure. 😉
Thanks! And yeah, it’s pretty much impossible for me to stop at just one…
Hahaha love your childhood piano recital photos! And these bars look amazing… definitely worth the months of practicing the piano just so you could perform in the recital to get to the dessert after 😉
Thanks! And yes – dessert receptions are the BEST, haha. It’s a good thing the dresses I wore to recitals were pretty roomy…
I also have lots of childhood memories surrounding lemon bars! They’re just so good. I’m looking forward to trying your recipe with the fruit dollop in the middle! Love it 🙂
Gotta love those foods that trigger walks down memory lane! I hope you enjoy these 🙂