Half Time Sunshine Bars

Brighten up your snacking game with these delightful Half Time Sunshine Bars! Featuring a buttery, golden shortbread crust topped with a tangy citrus filling made from fresh lemon juice, orange juice, and vibrant zests, these bars are a burst of sunshine in every bite. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, they’re lightly dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finishing touch. With just 20 minutes of prep time, these bars are ideal for halftime treats, picnics, or dessert tables, offering 12 servings of pure, zesty indulgence. Whether enjoyed as a midday pick-me-up or paired with a warm beverage, these citrus bars are a crowd-pleaser that captures the essence of sun-soaked flavors!

Nutriscore Rating: 39/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 200 grams unsalted butter
• 150 grams granulated sugar
• 250 grams all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 4 large eggs
• 120 milliliters lemon juice
• 60 milliliters orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 200 grams powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 0.5 teaspoons baking powder

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and 50 grams of the granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 3

Add 200 grams of all-purpose flour and the salt to the butter mixture. Mix until it resembles coarse crumbs and begins to hold together.

Step 4

Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the shortbread crust. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.

Step 5

While the crust is baking, prepare the citrus filling. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon juice, orange juice, lemon zest, orange zest, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and baking powder until smooth and well combined.

Step 6

Pour the citrus filling over the slightly cooled crust, spreading it evenly.

Step 7

Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and just begins to pull away from the edges of the pan.

Step 8

Remove from the oven and allow the sunshine bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Step 9

Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Slice into 12 equal-sized bars.

Step 10

Dust the tops of the bars with a light coating of powdered sugar before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1102.3 grams (1102.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4112

Total Fat 193.30g	248%
Saturated Fat 106.60g	533%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 1187mg	396%
Sodium 1727mg	75%
Total Carbohydrate 568.00g	207%
Dietary Fiber 9.70g	35%
Total Sugars 352.30g
Protein 53.20g	106%

Vitamin D 164IU	820%
Calcium 222mg	17%
Iron 16mg	87%
Potassium 753mg	16%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.2%

Protein: 5.0%

Carbs: 53.8%