Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars Recipe
These Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars feature a buttery oat crust topped with a tangy and creamy lemon filling, finished with a sweet crumb topping. Perfectly balanced with bright citrus flavors and a tender texture, these bars make a delightful dessert or snack for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Filling
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons sour cream (or plain yogurt)
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray it lightly with nonstick spray to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mix dry ingredients for crust and topping. In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, salt, and baking soda to create a dry mixture that will form the base and topping crumbs.
- Combine wet ingredients and mix with dry. In a separate bowl, combine melted unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Reserve 3/4 cup of this mixture for the crumb topping.
- Form and bake crust. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create an even crust layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to set the base.
- Prepare lemon filling. While the crust bakes, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, sour cream (or yogurt), egg yolk, freshly squeezed lemon juice, finely grated lemon zest, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble bars and bake. Pour the lemon filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the filling. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 17 to 20 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is set.
- Cool and serve. Allow the lemon crumb bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 12 squares. This resting time ensures the bars firm up for clean cuts and the flavors meld beautifully.
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with plain yogurt if desired without significantly changing the texture.
- Make sure to fully cool the bars before cutting to prevent the filling from becoming too soft or runny.
- For a more intense lemon flavor, consider adding an extra teaspoon of lemon zest in the filling.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright, citrus flavor impact.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Keywords: lemon bars, lemon crumb bars, homemade lemon dessert, lemon dessert bars, oat crust dessert, citrus bars, easy lemon bars, baked lemon bars
Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/homemade-lemon-crumb-bars-recipe/
