Description
Delight in the zesty and sweet flavors of these homemade Lemon Crumb Bars featuring a buttery oat crust, a luscious lemon filling, and a crisp crumbly topping. Perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, these bars are a refreshing treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Oat Crust and Crumble
- 1 cup (80 g) quick-cooking oats
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks / 170 g) unsalted butter, melted
Lemon Filling
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup (115 g) freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Prepare Oat Crust Mixture: In a large bowl, combine quick-cooking oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour melted unsalted butter over the dry ingredients and mix until crumbly but do not overmix.
- Set Aside Topping Mixture: Reserve about 2 cups of this crumbly mixture for the topping. Divide the remaining mixture in half, placing one half into the lined baking pan as the crust.
- Press and Bake Crust: Press the oat mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Make Lemon Filling: In a large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, freshly squeezed lemon juice, egg yolks, lemon zest, and kosher salt until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Bars: Pour the lemon filling evenly over the baked oat crust.
- Add Crumb Topping: Evenly crumble the reserved oat topping mixture over the lemon filling layer, covering completely.
- Bake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the filling is set.
- Cool and Refrigerate: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature. For best results, refrigerate for at least 1 hour to fully set before serving.
Notes
- Quick-cooking oats create a tender crumb texture; do not substitute with old-fashioned oats for best results.
- Ensure the lemon juice is freshly squeezed for bright, natural flavor and acidity.
- The bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
- For an extra lemony punch, add a little more lemon zest into the filling.
- Use parchment paper to easily lift bars out of the pan for clean slicing.
