Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars Recipe
These Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars feature a buttery oat crust topped with a tangy lemon custard filling and a crunchy crumb topping. Perfectly balanced with sweet and tart flavors, these bars are easy to prepare and make a delightful treat for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars (4x4 grid) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust & Crumb 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
Lemon 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 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 prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients for Crust: In a separate bowl, mix the melted unsalted butter, packed light brown sugar, and pure vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Form Crust and Reserve Topping: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Reserve 3/4 cup of this mixture for the crumb topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
- Bake the Crust: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to set it lightly before adding the filling.
- Prepare the Lemon Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, sour cream (or plain yogurt), large egg yolk, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the lemon filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the top. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 17 to 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling is set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into squares for serving.
Notes
- You can substitute plain yogurt for sour cream to lighten the filling slightly.
- Make sure the lemon juice is freshly squeezed for the best bright and tangy flavor.
- For easier removal, allow the bars to cool completely before slicing.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Adding a pinch more lemon zest on top before baking can enhance the lemon aroma.
Keywords: Lemon bars, lemon crumb bars, lemon dessert, oat crust bars, sweet lemon bars, homemade lemon bars
Find it online: https://dailysimplerecipe.com/homemade-lemon-crumb-bars-recipe/
