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Lemon Mardi Gras Squares

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By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Dec 4, 2009
Bake-Off® Contest 04, 1952
Mrs. Joseph Negrotto
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Pecans make it perfect in this Southern-style dessert, tart-sweet bar cookies loaded with lemon.

Lemon Mardi Gras Squares

  • Prep Time 40 min
  • Total 2 hr 15 min
  • Ingredients 15
  • Servings 24
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Ingredients

Bars

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Frosting

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
  • 1 tablespoon half-and-half or milk

Garnish

  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • Lemon slices, if desired

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 400°F. Generously grease 13x9-inch pan with shortening; lightly flour; or spray with cooking spray. In small bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking powder; set aside.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, granulated sugar and butter with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until blended. Beat in 1 egg at a time until blended. Beat 1 minute longer. On low speed, beat in flour mixture alternately with lemon juice, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until well blended. Stir in lemon peel and 1/2 cup pecans. Pour into pan.
  • Step 
    3
    Bake 22 to 27 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat frosting ingredients on low speed until smooth and spreadable.
  • Step 
    4
    Spread frosting over warm bars. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup pecans. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Garnish with lemon slices.

Nutrition

180 Calories
8g Total Fat
2g Protein
25g Total Carbohydrate
18g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Bar
Calories
180
Calories from Fat
70
Total Fat
8g
12%
Saturated Fat
3 1/2g
18%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
40mg
13%
Sodium
95mg
4%
Potassium
35mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate
25g
8%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
18g
Protein
2g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
4%
4%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
4%
4%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 1 1/2 Fat;
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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