Lemon Rasberry Bars - gluten free, dairy free, soy free

Ingredients

Crust:

5 ounces Earth Balance Soy Free Spread, room temperature

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon caster sugar (very fine sugar)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste

1 cup millet flour

1/2 cup sweet rice flour

1/4 cup arrowroot starch plus 1 tablespoon

Lemon Filling:

1 cup fresh lemon juice, about 12 lemons

6 large eggs

6 large egg yolks

1 1/4 cups caster sugar

4 ounces Earth Balance Soy Free Spread, in chunks, room temperature.

Raspberry Filling:

3 pints fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries

4 tablespoons simple syrup

1 1/2 tablespoons caster sugar

1 teaspoon arrowroot

1/4 cup water plus 1 1/2 teaspoon water

1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

Preparation

* You will need a candy thermometer

Put the soy free spread and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, mix on low speed just to combine.

Increase the speed to medium high and beat for 3 minutes, until the mixture is light, and creamy, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as necessary.

Add the vanilla.

Add the flour, a 1/4 cup at a time, just until fully incorporated. Do not over mix.

The dough should not form into a ball, but it should create cornflake sized pieces when pressed together.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Transfer the dough to a half sheet pan (about 12×16 inches) lined with parchment paper.

Pat it down into the sheet pan just enough so that it is somewhat leveled.

Wrap the baking sheet in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or up to 2 days if making ahead.

Once chilled, take out and gently pat down while spreading the dough evenly until it is fully spread out.

Dough should be about 1/4 inch thick. Refrigerate for 5 minutes before baking.

Bake the crust until golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway for even browning.

Let it cool (in the baking sheet) to room temperature.

Meanwhile, for the lemon filling.

Combine the lemon juice, eggs, yolks, soy free spread, and sugar in a glass bowl over a saucepan with simmering (low boil) water.

The bowl should not touch the simmering water, otherwise it will curdle, and whisk for 5 minutes using one whisk of an electric mixer. It will appear very foamy and slightly thick. Take off the heat.

Remove water from the saucepan, dry out the saucepan and transfer the egg mixture into the sauce pan with a rubber spatula.

Continue to whisk with the electric mixer for a few more minutes, or until thick and has reached 170 degrees F on a candy thermometer.

Pour into a bowl, cover directly on the lemon curd with plastic wrap (to prevent a film), cool slightly then chill for 2 hours, or overnight.

For the raspberry filling:

In a small saucepan on medium high heat, combine simple syrup, raspberries, 1/4 cup water (remaining water is for arrowroot), and caster sugar.

Whisk until it comes to a boil. About 5 minutes.

Meanwhile combine arrowroot and 1 1/2 teaspoon water in a small bowl.

When the raspberries come to a full boil, whisk in the arrowroot mixture.

Add gelatin, continue to whisk for another minute, then reduce to medium until reduced about an inch. Approximately 10-12 minutes, or until thickened.

Transfer to a bowl, let it cool to room temperature, then chill in refrigerator for 2 hours. It will thicken more during chilling time.

Assemble once fillings have been chilling at least a few hours.

With a large thin frosting spatula spread out the lemon curd evenly across the cookie crust.

Then spread raspberry mixture evenly over lemon curd.

Chill in the freezer for 2 hours before serving

Cut squares with a sharp knife.

Note: If making this recipe a couple of days ahead, chill in the freezer for an hour then cut squares (for easy removing just before serving) then freeze again. Thaw at room temperature 1 hour before serving. Serve chilled.

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About

This Lemon Raspberry Bar recipe was inspired by Chef Thomas Kellers’ Lemon Meringue Bar from the French Laundry Cookbook. I thought the raspberry would be a nice pairing to the lemon now that raspberries are in season. The chilled lemon curd is perfect for those hot summer days. If you love lemon you will love this recipe! I guarantee you, no one would ever know there isn’t a stick of butter anywhere in this dessert. I won’t tell.
Though I haven’t gone to culinary school, I like to think anything is possible-including adapting recipes from great chefs into a gluten/dairy/soy free version. When I do hit a good adapted recipe it makes my heart smile seeing my family savor every bite despite the dietary restrictions. For those of you who have dietary restrictions and are looking for that win-win recipe, look no further. Enjoy!