Rich Lemon Butter Tarts

Total Time: 7 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 7 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• lemon zest
• 9 extra large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
• 3 ounces butter

Recipe

• 1 shortbread crust:.
• 2 cream 3/4 lb softened butter and 1 cup powdered sugar together.
• 3 sift 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt, then add to mix.
• 4 add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, blend.
• 5 wrap dough in wax paper, chill 4-6 hours in refrigerator.
• 6 put in two 9" tart pans (1 1/2" high) an bake for 27-30 minutes at 325 degrees f. [time is adjusted for silicone pans].
• 7 tart:.
• 8 in a food processor or blender, combine the lemon zest (7 med. sized lemons worth) with 1/4 cup of the sugar and process until fine and moist, several minutes.
• 9 in a medium-sized bowl, combine the eggs, the 3/4 cup sugar, and the zest mixture. whisk briskly until well blended. stir in freshly squeezed lemon juice. place the bowl over a saucepan half-filled with slowly simmering water and stir until the mixture thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon, 6 to 8 minutes.
• 10 stir in the butter, a piece at a time, mixing until melted and smooth. strain through a fine-mesh sieve. immediately pour the lemon butter into the tart shells and set aside. the filling will set as it cools. let cool completely before serving.
• 11 just before serving, lightly dust the edges of the tarts with powdered sugar.