Earl Grey Guava Lemon Bars (Printable Version)

Elegant layered bars combining Earl Grey's floral notes with sweet guava and tangy lemon filling.

# What You’ll 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

# Method:

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 crumbly dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden around edges.
04 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine guava paste and water. Stir until paste melts into thick, spreadable consistency. Remove from heat.
05 - 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 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 Hints:

01 -
  • The Earl Grey steeps into the filling with such sophistication that people always ask what your secret ingredient is.
  • Guava and lemon create this tropical-bright balance that somehow feels both comforting and exciting.
  • They look fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but come together without any fussy techniques.
02 -
  • Never spread cold guava paste onto a crust; it breaks apart and creates an ugly crumb layer instead of a smooth stripe of flavor between the layers.
  • If your filling looks lumpy, strain it through a fine mesh sieve before pouring; the tea leaves will catch and you'll have a silky filling instead.
03 -
  • Steep the Earl Grey leaves directly in your lemon juice for 10 minutes before adding to the filling if you want a more pronounced tea flavor that really sings.
  • Keep your baking pan centered in the oven and avoid opening the door until the last few minutes; temperature fluctuations can cause the top to crack or the center to overcook.
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