Poppy Seed-Lemon Bars

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 0.5 cups butter , softened
• 0.25 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoons salt
• 0.13 teaspoons ground cardamom , Optional
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

2. 2

   Combine butter and confectioners' sugar in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour, salt, and cardamom; mix until just combined. Stir in poppy seeds until evenly distributed. Press dough evenly into the prepared baking dish with floured hands.

3. 3

   Bake crust in the preheated oven until edges are just starting to brown, about 18 minutes.

4. 4

   While the crust is baking, combine sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and stir until just combined.

5. 5

   As soon as the crust comes out of the oven, pour the filling into it and return to the oven.

6. 6

   Bake until filling is puffy and lightly browned around the edges, about 30 minutes. Place on a wire rack and cool completely before cutting into 16 squares. Dust lightly with confectioners sugar.