Description
Bright, buttery, and impossibly easy to make, these Lemon Crumb Bars combine a sweet oat crumble with tangy lemon curd filling. A perfect balance of texture and flavor, ideal for any season.
Ingredients
For the Crumb Base and Topping:
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ 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
For the Lemon Filling:
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 large egg yolks
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, oats, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
3. Add both sugars and mix until evenly distributed. Break up brown sugar clumps with fingers if needed.
4. Pour in melted butter and vanilla. Stir until mixture resembles wet sand and clumps together when squeezed.
5. Press half the mixture firmly into the pan to form the base. Bake for 15 minutes.
6. While baking, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and egg yolks until smooth.
7. Pour the lemon filling over the hot crust and spread evenly.
8. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over the filling.
9. Return to the oven and bake for 20–22 minutes, until top is lightly golden and center is set.
10. Cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours before slicing.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest flavor, bottled won’t cut it.
- Chilling is key to clean cuts. Let bars set completely before slicing.
- To double the recipe, use a 9×13 pan and increase each baking stage by ~5 minutes.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze individually for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 37 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Bars, Baking
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 48mg