Aprium Pistachio Bars

Healthy, delicious, different. These Aprium Pistachio Oat Bars make a change for breakfast, afternoon tea or for a snack.

Bars:
1½ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
¼ cup pistachios, chopped
½ cup sugar
½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. lemon zest, freshly grated
1 pinch sea salt
1 egg
½ cup (1 stick) butter, cold

Filling:
1 cup sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 lemons, freshly squeezed and strained
3 eggs
1 lemon, freshly zested
3 Tbsp. milk or cream
¼ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
4-5 apriums, halved
confectioners' sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C/170°C fan, Gas Mark 5). Grease and line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, pistachios, baking powder, lemon zest and salt. With a cheese grater, grate stick of cold butter into flour mixture. Add in one egg. With your hands or a pastry blender, combine dough mixture until crumbly. Pat the dough evenly into the greased and parchment-lined pan and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cinnamon, lemon juice and zest, milk and salt. Whisk in three eggs. Pour mixture over pressed dough. Place halved apriums evenly into filling.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until the middle no longer jiggles. Let cool 20-30 minutes. If desired, top with sifted confectioners' sugar and serve.

Makes 9 bars.