A fruity, juicy filling on a buttery shortbread crust — the perfect dessert for Spring or Summer! Change up the juices and fruits to suit your tastes, or use what you have! This recipe makes a large pan so it’s perfect for a potluck or family barbecue.
You know that time when you were about half way through a recipe and you went to grab one of the essential ingredients from your fridge and it just was not there? And you swear that you just bought some and it’s probably hiding on you somewhere, and that’s understandable because you just moved (almost 3 months ago…)?
Me neither.
Kidding. Story of my life.
And it’s not like I don’t try really hard to keep my fridge, pantry and freezer stocked. It’s just that I’m sometimes still in disbelief about how quickly we can go through food, seeing how it is just myself, my husband and our little girl who are eating it.
There are times when I’m struggling to push my shopping cart piled high with groceries through the aisles of the supermarket, putting every ounce of my strength into each turn, and I feel like people watching must think I have 5 kids at home.
Those are the people without kids, obviously, because people with kids know.
Clearly I need to be more on top of my game, and maybe I wouldn’t be stressing half-way through each recipe thinking “what am I going to substitute for that??” and frantically searching my kitchen for something appropriate.
Then again, I’m not sure what I would call myself if I ever was completely prepared for a recipe or didn’t add my own touch to everything that comes out of my kitchen, so I guess I’ll just carry on and pretend like it’s an integral part of my kitchen personality.
All that being said, I was so happy with the way these turned out in the end. I didn’t have enough lemon juice to stick with a strawberry lemon bar, so I substituted some pineapple juice and I loved the result!
These bars taste like summer. They’re perfect for Spring, when you’re still willing to turn your oven on and maybe fresh strawberries haven’t quite reached your area yet. Perfect for when you’re longing for a taste of fresh, fruity perfection!
*Recipe and photos updated June 12, 2015 from original from March 25, 2014.
Strawberry Pineapple Lemonade Bars
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- Pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- pinch of salt
- 4 cups strawberries *I used frozen, thawed. Fresh would also work, but you might have more trouble getting the juice out. Or substitute any berries you like
- icing sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (If using a dark non-stick pan, I recommend baking at 330-335 degrees F and adding a few extra minutes). Line a 9×13″, 10×15″ or 12×16″ pan with tin foil and spray with non-stick spray. I’ve used a 9×13″ and a 12×16″. The bars pictured were made in a 12×16″ pan, and they’re plenty thick!)
- Combine butter, sugar and salt in a stand mixer. Add in flour and beat until just combined (mixture will be crumbly). You can always combine the mixture with your hands.
- Press evenly in the bottom of the pan. Bake 10-15 minutes, until crust feels slightly dry on top.
- Combine sugar, eggs, flour, juices and salt in a large bowl with a whisk. Puree berries in a blender, food processor or Magic Bullet (I got 2.5-3 cups berry puree). Press through a sieve or fine mesh strainer into the bowl with the egg mixture. Whisk to combine. Pour into crust and bake 30-45 minutes until filling is completely set. A 9×13″ pan will need between 40-45 (mine baked 43 minutes) minutes and a 12×16″ pan needed about 30 minutes.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars (I let mine sit in the fridge for a couple hours after they come to room temperature). Dust with icing sugar if desired.
Notes
*You can use more or less of whichever juices you desire! Feel free to mix and match.
Nutrition Information
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Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
These bars look amazing Ashley! Love that you were a recipe rebel (pun totally intended, haha) and added pineapple juice. They sound wonderful and I’m all about bars. 🙂 Pinned!
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Cyndi! Not that rebellious really, but it’s nice to be forced to improvise sometimes!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
These are gorgeous Ashley! What lovely fresh flavours! Your photography is always so incredible – I’m in awe!
Ashley says
Aw thanks Jessica! You’re too nice!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
love the pineapple juice!!! and that happens to me all the time .. and then, I have crazy thoughts like, ok I just need to run to the store to pick up that one thing. . with both kids in tow. . but that never happens and I guess that how amazing new discoveries happen! 🙂 love these bars!
Ashley says
Haha, exactly! We are at least 30 minutes away, and then you add in the 6 month old and the 3 year old…. no thanks! Thanks Alice!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
That’s how I am with tortillas and fruit. It’s like it’s there one day and gone the next and I’m all what the???? These bars are gorgeous!!! Pinned!
Ashley says
Haha, I can totally relate! Thanks Dorothy!
Stacey @ Bake Eat Repeat says
Hahahaha, um, you just described my life. But I probably wouldn’t BE a food blogger if I didn’t change pretty much everything I make. Sadly though, it’s often the result of need rather then creativity! Oh well, sometimes that works out – these bars obviously did, they look fantastic!
Ashley says
Haha, exactly! Love mixing things up in the kitchen!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
What a great combination of flavors! These look wonderful!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Okay, um these bars speak summer I’m pretty sure in every luscious bite. And seriously, could they get any more gorgeous?? I’m totally crushing on all that PINK!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Lol, same here, we tend to go through food way too quickly sometimes too 🙂
I love that you used pineapple and lemons in these bars instead. They look gorgeous and I love the pretty pink color!
Ashley says
Thanks Kelly! I can’t get enough fruity summer desserts!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
Seriously, story of my life too! I am always short by one ingredient that I swear I have (but apparently don’t, haha). Okay, but these bars. Seriously. They look like a thing of straight glory!
Ashley says
Hahaha, thanks Michelle!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Oh god! These bars look so stunning! Just to die for! What a gorgeous color, and I bet it tastes AWESOME! 🙂
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I love these!!! I can’t seem to make anything without wrecking havoc in my kitchen. Every utensil, measuring cup, dish, etc. seems to need washing and flour and other ingredients are splattered evvvverywhere. That whole mess would be totally worth it for these bars!!
Ashley says
Haha, story of my life! Thanks Alyssa!
Jessica DeMay says
These bars sound so good and so perfect for summer! I love the addition of pineapple juice- that stuff is good!
Justine | Cooking and Beer says
These are simply STUNNING, Ashley!
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies says
OMG these are so cute and perfect and can I just scream that look they are pink, I am obsessed! And the flavors are so summary, how can we be friends so I can stop by for dessert?
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Katalina! And I’m always looking for someone to eat my dessert so I don’t eat it all myself!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
What a unique flavor combination! Lovely photos and I want to give these a try, pinning 🙂
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Stacey! Shortbread is my absolute favorite! I would much rather use frozen fruit than “shipped in from who knows where” fruit that has no flavor! I like to have back ups for the items I regularly use (my husband calls it hoarding).
Ashley says
I love using frozen fruits and vegetables — especially ones that have been saved from the summer when they’re at their best! Thanks Dorothy!
Rachel @the dessert chronicles says
Your photos are stunning!! I love the idea of combining strawberry and pineapple flavors for these bars. So creative!!
Ashley says
Thanks Rachel!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’m in love with the pretty pink color, Ashley! And the flavors sound perfect, too! Such a great idea to use pineapple and lemons. Love these for the summer!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Ashley – These lemonade bars are absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us. Generally there are only two people in my house, but I, too, shop like there are five people living with me. Haha.
Ashley says
Haha, we have 4 now but my 3 year old and 6 month old eat about the same amount now, which is not a lot! Lol,
CakePants says
Sounds delicious!! And that color – wow…so gorgeous! The addition of pineapple sounds really intriguing. And yes…that happens to me all the time when I realize halfway through a recipe that I don’t have something I could have sworn I did. Conversely, I also tend to forget when I’ve already stocked up on something, which is how I end up with about 12 boxes of quinoa and 5 bottles of soy sauce.
Ashley says
Haha — that’s too funny! I do that all the time, too! But I’d way rather have 10 of something I know I’ll use eventually than have to run to the store every other day 🙂