Gluten-free Goodie of the Week: Amazing orange bars

Dig into this delightful dessert and add a bit of sunshine to your day!

Spring is almost here (almost), so celebrate the day with a taste of sunshine! This Gluten-free Goodie of the Week recipe for amazing orange bars will bring a smile to your face. The orange flavor of this treat is what makes these bars amazing. Even if spring isn’t here quite yet, this dessert will make you forget about any bad weather that may be lingering.

Related story Giada De Laurentiis Says This Is the ‘Best Banana Bread Muffin of Your Life,’ & It's Also Gluten-free

Amazing orange bars recipe

Yields 9 bars

Ingredients:

For the crust

• 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• Nonstick cooking spray

For the filling

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Powdered sugar for topping
• 1 drop red food color (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with the cooking spray and set aside.
2. To make the crust, combine the flour, butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon orange zest in a large bowl and mix until a smooth dough forms.
3. Transfer the dough to the baking dish and pat it down evenly across the bottom.
4. Bake for 25-28 minutes or until golden. Halfway through baking, the crust may begin to puff up. Simply prick it in several spots with the point of a sharp knife, then continue baking.
5. To make the filling, combine the 3/4 cup sugar, water, orange juice, orange zest and cornstarch in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat.
6. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce the heat to low and allow it to cook for about a minute more. The mixture should thicken after boiling.
7. If you’d like, add one drop of red food color to the filling and mix well. This will give it a bit of an orange color. Allow the mixture to cool.
8. When the crust has finished baking, allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes.
9. Pour the filling evenly over the crust and refrigerate until it has cooled completely. Note: If the filling has thickened too much before you’re ready to pour it, simply place the pan it’s in over low heat for a few minutes, stirring, until it thins out again.
10. When completely cooled, sift the powdered sugar over the lemon mixture before cutting and serving the bars.

You’ll love the taste of sunshine in these bars!

More Gluten-free Goodie recipes

Cinnamon graham crackers
Chocolate truffle cakes
Fresh coconut, mango and lime ice cream