Earl Grey Guava Lemon Bars (Printable)

A refined combination of Earl Grey, guava, and lemon for a flavorful, elegant dessert bar experience.

# 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an 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 crumbly dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
04 - While crust bakes, combine guava paste and water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until paste melts into thick, spreadable consistency. Remove from heat.
05 - Carefully spread melted guava paste evenly over hot crust immediately after removing from 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 filling over guava layer and return pan to oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes until center is just set and no longer jiggles when shaken gently.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in pan on wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set.
09 - Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into 16 squares. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Earl Grey tea infuses both the crust and filling with subtle bergamot notes that elevate the entire dessert.
  • The triple-layer construction creates a beautiful visual appeal when sliced.
  • The guava layer adds unexpected tropical sweetness that balances the tart lemon perfectly.
  • These bars make an elegant addition to teatime or dessert tables at special gatherings.
02 -
  • Use loose Earl Grey tea leaves for a more pronounced flavor if available, grinding them slightly for better distribution.
  • For cleaner cuts, wipe your knife clean between slices and refrigerate the bars thoroughly before cutting.
  • The bars can be made up to 3 days ahead and kept refrigerated in an airtight container.
  • Wait to dust with powdered sugar until just before serving to prevent it from dissolving into the top layer.
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