Smoked Lemon-Ricotta Bars

These lemon-ricotta bars are the perfect balance of tangy, creamy, and sweet, with a light smoky flavor from cooking on the Traeger. Using a square muffin pan (or similar) gives them a convenient bar shape, perfect for easy serving at your next outdoor gathering. These bars are light, refreshing, and just the right amount of indulgent!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ cup sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 3 large eggs

• 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk for best texture)

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Traeger: Set your Traeger or pellet grill to 400°F and use a mild wood like apple or cherry for a subtle, sweet smoke flavor. Let the grill preheat with the lid closed for about 15 minutes.

2. Prepare the pan: Grease a square muffin pan (or an 8x8-inch square baking pan) and line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars. If using a square muffin pan, you’ll get individual bar servings that are perfectly sized.

3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, first whisk together the sugar and butter. Followed by ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract and finally eggs stirring until smooth.

5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, folding them together gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix – a few lumps are perfectly fine.

6. Fill the pan: Pour the batter into the prepared square muffin pan or baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

7. Bake on the Traeger: Place the pan on the preheated Traeger and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the bars are golden around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar for a light, sweet finish.

Tips

• Add a fruity twist: Top these bars with fresh berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, for an extra burst of flavor.

• For extra lemony goodness: You can increase the lemon zest to 3 tbsp for a more pronounced citrus flavor.

These Smoked Lemon-Ricotta Bars are the perfect way to enjoy a sweet, smoky treat! Soft, tangy, and just a little smoky – these bars will be a hit at any gathering.

Enjoy!