Earl Grey Guava Lemon Bars (Printable)

Floral tea meets tropical guava and zesty lemon in these elegant bars.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 Earl Grey tea bag, contents only

→ Guava Layer

06 - 1 cup guava paste, cut into small cubes
07 - 2 tablespoons water

→ Lemon-Earl Grey Filling

08 - 4 large eggs
09 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
10 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
12 - 1 Earl Grey tea bag, contents only
13 - 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
14 - Zest of 1 lemon
15 - Pinch of salt

→ Finishing

16 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour, salt, and Earl Grey tea bag contents. Mix until a crumbly dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
04 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine guava paste and water. Stir until the paste melts into a thick, spreadable consistency. Remove from heat.
05 - Carefully spread melted guava paste evenly over the hot crust immediately after removing it from the oven.
06 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, Earl Grey tea bag contents, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Whisk until fully incorporated.
07 - Pour the filling over the guava layer and return pan to the oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the center is just set and no longer jiggles when shaken gently.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set.
09 - Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into 16 squares. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The Earl Grey tea adds a floral sophistication that makes people pause mid-bite and ask what that mysterious flavor is.
  • Guava paste creates a beautiful middle layer that tastes way more special than the effort it takes.
  • These bars look stunning dusted with powdered sugar, so they're perfect for sharing with people you actually want to impress.
02 -
  • The guava layer must go on the hot crust or it won't stick properly, but you need to move fast or it'll spread unevenly and create thick and thin patches.
  • Fully squeezing your own lemons makes a dramatic difference in flavor because bottled juice tastes flat and sharp compared to fresh, and the zest is where half the brightness lives.
  • These bars get better after a full day in the fridge, so if you have time, make them a day ahead and they'll taste even more integrated and elegant.
03 -
  • Toast your lemon zest gently in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding it to the filling to deepen and intensify those citrus notes.
  • Keep an eye on the second bake because ovens vary wildly, and you're looking for that delicate moment when the center is just barely set, not fully firm.
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