Description
Delight in these tangy and sweet Lemon Crumb Bars, featuring a buttery crumbly crust layered with a smooth, zesty lemon filling and topped with a golden crumb topping. Perfect for a refreshing dessert or snack, these bars combine bright lemon flavor with a tender, shortbread-like texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumb Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg, beaten
Lemon Filling
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (optional, for extra lemon flavor)
Finishing
- Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Prepare crumb mixture: In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and cut it into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture becomes crumbly. Stir in the beaten egg until the dough just comes together.
- Form crust: Press about 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust layer.
- Make lemon filling: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest (if using) until smooth.
- Assemble bars: Pour the lemon filling over the crust and spread it evenly. Then sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the lemon filling, covering it as evenly as possible.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the filling is set.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar if desired.
- Serve: Cut into 9 squares and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best vibrant flavor.
- Make sure the butter is cold for crumbly topping texture.
- Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to prevent filling from oozing out.
- Optional lemon zest enhances the lemon flavor without adding acidity.
- Store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
