Luscious Lemon Layers Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on 2 sides; spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• For the crust: Add the flour, cornstarch, confectioners' sugar and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse 10 times until combined. Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 times. (The dough will not come together in one mass.) Sprinkle the mixture evenly in the prepared pan and lightly pat it down. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
• For the filling: Combine the eggs, yolks, sugar, flour, salt and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Whisk continuously over medium heat, occasionally scraping down the sides and edges of the pan with a rubber spatula, until simmering and thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the lemon zest and butter until combined.
• Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Pour the filling over the crust and bake until just set, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place on a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
• Use the foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Remove the foil and slice into squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Steps:

• Mix flour, butter& chopped pecans together like biscuit dough and press into 8x8 inch baking pan. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until brown.
• Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 cup whipped topping and spread over first layer while still warm.
• Stir lemon pudding mix, sugar, 1/4 cup water and egg yolks together in a medium saucepan. Stir in 2 cups water. Stirring constantly, with wire whisk, cook on medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil. (NOTE: if you are using instant pudding or a different flavor, use the ingredients & directions for preparation on the package!).
• Cool 5 minutes, stirring twice. Cool about 30 minutes more and spread over two previous layers. Cool completely and top with remaining whipped topping.
• Chill.

Steps:

• Pie Crust: Whisk flour with a fork while still in the bag or canister. Gently spoon out flour into measuring cups. (This reduces flour by as much as 1/8 to 1/4 cup).
• Then sift flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add shortening and cut into pea sized bits with pastry blender. Add cold water gradually until just dampened. Place on waxed paper and gather into ball from the outside corners. Press dough into a 6-inch pancake shape. Wrap with plastic wrap.
• Chill at least 30 minutes and then roll out between two large pieces of plastic wrap. Remove one side of plastic wrap, lightly flour if necessary and place into a 9-inch clear glass deep dish pan.
• Remove plastic wrap and flute edges. Prick bottom and sides with a fork. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Use extra pastry for cut-outs in the shapes of lemons, stars, etc. for decoration.
• Bottom Layer: In saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Mix with wire whisk; blend in lemon juice and cold water; then add egg yolks and blend until smooth. Add butter and gradually stir in boiling water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil 2 minutes; remove from heat and add lemon extract, zest/peel, and food coloring. Partially cool for 30 minutes, and pour into the baked pie shell. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before adding second layer.
• Second Layer: In a small bowl, cream sugar and cream cheese with spatula until smooth. Add milk and stir until well blended. Add pudding and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes until thickened. Pour on bottom layer. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Top Layer: Cream together the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip and spread on top of cooled lemon pudding. Garnish with extra pastry cutouts, citrus or mint leaves. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.

Steps:

• ----Crust----.
• Mix all crust ingredients together with a fork or pastry blender.
• Press into bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Cool completely.
• ----Filling #1----.
• Using electric mixer on low speed, blend cream cheese, sugar and lemon zest.
• Add Cool Whip and mix until blended.
• Spread evenly on cooled crust.
• ----Filling #2----.
• Using electric mixer, gradually add 1/4 cup of the milk to the cream cheese.
• Mix until smooth.
• Add pudding mixes and remaining milk, mixing well until mixture thickens (about 2 minutes).
• Spread evenly on top of first layer.
• Refrigerate, covered, until serving time.
• Cut in squares to serve.
• NOTE: For best results, use Jell-o brand pudding mix.
• I have had poor results with other brands.
• A graham cracker crust could be substituted for the shortbread crust, or--OR use two purchased pie crusts and divide filling evenly between them, OR recipe can be halved and made in an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch pie pan.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375F. Combine flour, 1/2 cup pecans and butter in a medium bowl and mix well. Press onto the bottom of an 11 x 8-inch baking dish. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Let stand to cool. Place cream cheese in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set at medium speed until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Add 1 cup whipped topping to cream cheese mixture and fold in gently. Spread over cooled crust. Combine pudding mix and milk in a medium bowl. Beat until thickened. Spread on top of cream cheese layer. Top with the remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with remaining pecans. Chill, covered, for 1 hour. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.