Go Back
–+ servings
Papaya bars on a white cutting board, one with a bite taken out.

Papaya Bars Recipe

Melissa Norris
Looking for an easy homemade dessert that will impress a crowd (but is simple enough for a weeknight?). Look no further than these papaya bars. Think lemon bars but with a slightly sweeter custard paired with a buttery cookie crust. If you find yourself with a ripe papaya and aren’t quite sure what to make with it, this recipe is for you.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 bars
Calories 223 kcal

Equipment

  • Food processor or high-powered blender
  • 9x9-inch Baking Pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Whisk
  • Spatula

Ingredients
  

For the Cookie Crust

  • 1/2 cup butter cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Papaya Filling

  • 3/4 cup papaya puree *see notes for making papaya puree
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1.5 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice fresh or bottled
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

For the Cookie Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Prepare your 9X9 baking dish with parchment paper or oil. Set aside.
  • To a food processor, add the powdered sugar, flour, salt, and cold butter. Pulse to combine until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with a few chunks throughout.
  • Transfer the cookie mixture to the prepared baking dish and press firmly so the layer is even. Pierce with a fork a few times.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown.

For the Papaya Filling

  • While the crust is baking, create your papaya puree (if you haven’t already) by placing papaya cubes into the food processor and pulse until smooth.
  • To the papaya puree, add the sugar, flour and lemon juice and blend until smooth.
  • Pour the filling into a medium-sized bowl. Add eggs and whisk until fully combined.
  • Pour your papaya mixture onto the baked cookie crust and bake again for 25-30 minutes until it is no longer liquid or jiggly. (The bars will firm up as they cool.)
  • Once bars are cooled to room temperature, slice them into squares and dust them with powdered sugar. Alternatively, you can place the bars in the refrigerator if you’d rather serve them chilled.

Notes

* Papaya puree - Be sure you have a red papaya (not a green one). Ripe papayas will work best as they’re the sweetest. To make papaya puree, remove the skin, de-seed and cut into cubes. Place the cubes in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. You’ll need about 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups of papaya cubes to get 3/4 cup puree.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 148mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 499IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Papaya Bars, Papaya Dessert Recipe, Papaya Recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!