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Lemon Crumb Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 85 reviews

These Lemon Crumb Bars combine a buttery oat crust with a tangy, creamy lemon filling topped with a sweet crumbly layer. Perfectly balanced with fresh lemon juice and zest, these bars are a delightful treat for any dessert occasion, offering a refreshing twist on traditional crumb bars.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust and Crumble

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Lemon Filling

  • 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 large egg yolks

Optional Topping

  • White chocolate, for dipping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan thoroughly with baking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, salt, and baking soda, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
  3. Add Sugars: Stir in the granulated sugar and packed light brown sugar to the dry mixture for sweetness and texture.
  4. Incorporate Butter and Vanilla: Mix the melted unsalted butter with vanilla extract and add this liquid mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until a cohesive crumbly dough forms.
  5. Form Crust Base: Press half of this crumbly mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating an even layer that will become the crust.
  6. Bake Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until it starts to set and lightly golden.
  7. Prepare Lemon Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, finely grated lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and egg yolks until smooth and creamy.
  8. Assemble Bars: Once the crust is baked, pour the lemon filling evenly over the crust. Then, sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture atop the lemon layer evenly to create the crumbly topping.
  9. Bake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20–22 minutes until the bars are lightly golden and the lemon filling is set but still slightly soft.
  10. Cool and Chill: Allow the bars to cool completely on a rack, then refrigerate until firm to ensure clean slicing and optimal texture.
  11. Slice and Serve: For best results, chill thoroughly or briefly freeze before cutting to prevent the filling from oozing out, resulting in neat, easy-to-handle bars.
  12. Optional Decoration: For extra indulgence, dip the bottom half of frozen bars in melted white chocolate. Place on wax paper and refrigerate until the chocolate hardens before serving.

Notes

  • Chilling the bars before slicing helps achieve cleaner cuts and avoids dripping lemon filling.
  • If white chocolate dipping is desired, make sure bars are fully frozen to prevent melting and mess.
  • Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest citrus flavor.
  • These bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Keywords: lemon bars, crumb bars, lemon dessert, citrus bars, baked lemon bars, oat crumb topping

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/lemon-crumb-bars-recipe/