Description
Buttery, citrus-forward crumb bars with a crisp crust, tangy lemon custard, and golden crumb topping. Perfect for snacking or elegant serving with bright, balanced flavors.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (for topping)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
For crust: Pulse 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 stick softened butter and 1 egg in a processor until crumbly. Press into prepared pan.
For filling: Whisk remaining 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, lemon juice, zest, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 stick butter until smooth. Pour over crust.
Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup oats, 3 tbsp melted butter, and 1/2 stick softened butter over filling.
Bake 25 minutes until golden. Cool completely, then slice into bars.
Notes
Swap 1 cup flour for whole wheat or gluten-free blend.
Use coconut sugar for caramel notes.
Substitute vegan butter or coconut oil for dairy-free version.
Storage: Airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg