Earl Grey Guava Lemon Bars (Printable)

Elegant bars blending fragrant Earl Grey, sweet guava, and zesty lemon in a layered dessert.

# 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides 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 a crumbly dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden around edges.
04 - While crust bakes, combine guava paste and water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until paste melts into a 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 does not jiggle when shaken gently.
08 - Remove from oven and cool completely in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set thoroughly.
09 - Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into 16 equal squares. Dust with powdered sugar immediately before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Three distinct flavors that play beautifully together without fighting for attention.
  • The crust stays buttery and tender even after chilling, making these bars feel fancier than they actually are to make.
02 -
  • Room temperature eggs and lemon juice make a visible difference in texture and flavor; cold ingredients don't incorporate properly and the filling stays grainy.
  • Guava paste varies wildly between brands—some are dense and stiff, others are already spreadable, so adjust your water amount accordingly when melting it.
03 -
  • Open and inspect your Earl Grey tea bags before using—sometimes there are stems or larger pieces that don't dissolve smoothly; rubbing the leaves between your fingers breaks them into smaller, more evenly distributed pieces.
  • Zest your lemon before squeezing it (you need the juice anyway) so the oils are still fresh and fragrant, and squeeze slowly to extract maximum juice without pushing bitter white pith into the liquid.
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