Honey Lavender Bars
Honey lavender bars are soft, fragrant, and lightly sweetened with floral honey and a hint of lavender, perfect for a unique spring or summer dessert.
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened and cut into small cubes
For the filling
- 1/2 cup honey preferably light, floral varieties like clover or wildflower
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon culinary-grade dried lavender finely ground
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice about 1 medium lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional garnish
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- A pinch of dried lavender for decoration
Instructions
Prepare the crust
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang to make lifting the bars out easier.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar for the crust. Add the butter cubes and mix with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling
- In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, sugar, and eggs until smooth. Sift in the flour to avoid lumps, then stir to combine. Add the ground lavender, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, mixing until the filling is fully incorporated.
- Pour the filling over the pre-baked crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Bake the bars
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles in the center. The edges will be lightly golden.
Cool and slice
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift them out. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 12 squares or rectangles.