At last, at last the memorium on delicious cakey delights comes to an end, with lemon squares! I spent ages looking for a vegnaised version of the lemon squares my mum used to make when I was a child. It was more a cross between fairy cakes and brownies in texture than any of the recipes I found -- though the Time-Warp Lemon Squares and Lemon Squares from the Post-punk Kitchen nearly tempted me. Yet, even that isn't quite right, for there was a slight gelatinousness to them as well. It's no good asking my mum for things, as she is quite determined that 'veganising' will make it 'different' and apparently 'different' is 'not worth the trial'.
So, I had a go anyway, just to see if I could do it. And I think I almost got it, and they're pretty bloody good besides!
***update*** I made another batch of these with a small twist in the baking and they're even better! Bake, as instructed, uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and bake for a further 15--20 minutes. It's more fiddly, but the result is exactly what my mum used to make, exactly!
ingredients:
1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
4 tbsp. cornstarch
3 tbsp. arrowroot powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
8 tbsp. organic vegan margarine
2--3 lemons, throughly juiced and zested -- do remember to scoop out the pips!
1 tsp. lemon extractmethod:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Seive together the flour, sugar, cornstarch, arrowroot and baking powder. With a wooden spoon cream in the margarine. When well blended, mix in the lemon juice (pulp and all), zest and extract. The batter should be mostly lump free but if there are a few wee ones I shouldn't think it'd make much difference.
Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch by 9-inch pan and place in the oven -- if you can move the shelves about, position one about 1/3 from the bottom and use that. Cover with foil (obviously don't let the foil come in contact with the batter) and bake for about 45--55 minutes (if you pierce with a knife it will come out almost-but-not-quite-clean and that's fine). Leave to cool on a wire rack. If, after you cut into it properly you find that it's a bit too oozy for your liking, stick it back in the oven (still covered) for another maybe ten minutes.
Only once it's cool should you dust liberally with (vegan) powdered sugar, then slice and serve with ice coffee? Lemonade? Gin and tonic? Something fresh and cool in any case!
Looks scrummy. Do you need someone to test them?
Posted by: Mel | June 10, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Those sound sooooo good on this 95 degree day! Thanks for the recipe maybe I'll try them this weekend!
Posted by: Jenni | June 09, 2008 at 10:46 PM