Pioneer Woman Orange Bars Recipe

This Pioneer Woman Orange Bars recipe is a sweet and tangy dessert, which is made with a buttery shortbread crust and a bright, fresh orange custard filling. It’s the perfect treat for any occasion, ready in about 3 hours, including chilling time.

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Pioneer Woman Orange Bars Ingredients

For the Crust:

• 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, cold and cut into small cubes, plus more for buttering the pan
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Filling:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• Zest and juice of 4 oranges (about 1 cup of juice)
• Powdered sugar, for sifting

How To Make Pioneer Woman Orange Bars

1. Prepare and Bake the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan with butter. In a bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles fine crumbs. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the crust is golden around the edges.
2. Make the Filling: While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. In another bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and flour. Crack in the eggs and whisk until just combined. Add the orange zest and orange juice and mix until everything is well combined.
3. Bake the Filling: Once the crust is done, pour the orange filling evenly over the hot crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles in the center.
4. Cool and Chill: Let the bars cool completely at room temperature, then transfer them to the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 2 hours. This step is crucial for the filling to set properly.
5. Serve: Just before serving, sift a generous layer of powdered sugar over the top. Cut into 16 squares and serve cold.

Recipe Tips

• How to get the best flavor? Using fresh oranges for both the zest and the juice will give your bars the most vibrant, authentic citrus flavor. Look for oranges that are heavy for their size, as this indicates they are juicy.
• Why use room temperature eggs? Allowing your eggs to come to room temperature before mixing helps them combine more easily with the other ingredients, resulting in a smoother, more uniform custard filling.
• How do I avoid a tough filling? When making the filling, mix the ingredients only until they are just combined. Overmixing can incorporate too much air and lead to a tougher, less delicate texture.
• Why is chilling so important? You must let the bars cool completely and then chill for at least 2 hours. This allows the orange custard filling to set up properly, which is essential for getting clean, neat slices.

What To Serve With Orange Bars

These sweet and tangy bars are a wonderful treat on their own.

• A hot cup of tea or coffee
• A dollop of whipped cream
• A side of fresh berries

How To Store Orange Bars

• Refrigerate: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 4-5 days. They are best served chilled.

Orange Bars Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 200 kcal
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Sugar: 18g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Cherry Pie Cookie Bars Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe