Pink Lemonade bars with shortbread sage crust

Peggy Calhoun Peggy Calhoun
posted Sep 18, 2011
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Attached Recipe Photo

Created in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (coming up in October). O.K. Ladies, next month everyone needs to get in for their yearly checkup, a cause I am truly passionate about. Most everyone I know has been affected by breast cancer in some form...either a lump scare, a biopsy, a mastectomy or a death. Early detection does save lives! When life deals you lemons...make Pink Lemonade! Enjoy this recipe as a tribute.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup finely ground shortbread cookies (about 15) in food processor
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
  • 8 ounces Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar, for filling
  • 2 egg whites
  • 3 tablespoons frozen pink lemonade concentrate
  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, colored pink with 4 drops red food color
  • 1 piece pink candy ribbon cut into 1 1/2" thin strips to shape into the for of a pink ribbon for garnish

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350'
  2. To make crust; In medium mixing bowl combine butter and sugar. Add flour, shortbread crumbs and sage. Stir until well combined and a dough has formed.
  3. Press dough evenly into a 9"x13" baking pan, set aside.
  4. To make filling; I medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese and sugar, mix until smooth. Blend in egg whites and lemonade. Add milk and stir until all ingredients are incorporated.
  5. Pour filling over crust and bake 25-30 minutes in preheated oven.
  6. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  7. Cut into 12 bars. Sprinkle tops with colored confectioners sugar and top each with a pink ribbon. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • cook time
    30 min.
  • prep time
    15 min.
  • yields
    12 serv.

Join the Discussion!

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  • Amy Wells
    Oct 29, 2012 at 3:29pm
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    love how these are decorated.
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  • susan gibson
    Oct 29, 2012 at 12:08pm
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    I can't wait to try these on my family - I will have to omit the sage though. Everything else would be great!
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  • Monica Williams Staniec
    Oct 31, 2011 at 12:24pm
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    These are just special and so are you Peggy! Nice job being featured as the recipe of the day! Way to go, monixo
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  • Nancy Manlove
    Oct 28, 2011 at 4:19pm
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    YUM Peggy! Lovely sweet pink treats and created in Honor of a great program!
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  • Peggy Calhoun
    Oct 28, 2011 at 3:23pm
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    Thanks Ladies, I hope you share!
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  • PJT
    PJT
    Oct 28, 2011 at 2:35pm
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    So happy for you, Peggy, that your wonderful bars were chosen for the "recipe of the day!"
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  • Josee Lanzi
    Oct 28, 2011 at 1:26pm
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    yea congrats on the recipe of the day!!
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  • Claudia Signal Leon
    Oct 28, 2011 at 1:10pm
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    As I have already told you, these are spectacular! And how appropriate for the month of October to have this chosen as the Recipe of the Day!
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  • Monica Williams Staniec
    Sep 21, 2011 at 12:41am
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    I'm intrigued by this flavor combination Peggy. Must give this one a try! Way to go, monixo
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  • Peggy Calhoun
    Sep 18, 2011 at 5:24pm
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    Disqualified...Too many ingredients, my mistake!
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