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Lemon Crumble Bars

These Lemon Crumble Bars have a buttery shortbread crust and a sweet oat crumble topping making a buttery, tart & tangy, sweet bite. Makes (16) 2-inch bars or (32) 1 x 2-inch bars
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon bars, oat crumble, shortbread crust
Servings: 16

Equipment

  • food processor

Ingredients

COOKIE BASE

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 10 tablespoons cold salted butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces

FILLING

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice from about 4 lemons
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

TOPPING

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1/2 cup uncooked regular rolled oats

Instructions

Prepare Cookie Base:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick.
  • Line pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to extend past edges of pan. Spray parchment.
  • Pulse flour, powdered sugar, salt and 1 teaspoon lemon zest in a food processor until combined, about 3 times.
  • Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse sand, 6 to 7 times.
  • Press flour mixture into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes.

Prepare Filling:

  • Combine granulated sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to simmer over medium-high. (Do not bring to a boil.)
  • Lightly beat eggs and yolks in a medium bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the hot sugar mixture to eggs, whisking constantly.
  • Gradually add egg mixture to remaining sugar mixture in saucepan, whisking constantly.
  • Cook, whisking constantly, until thick and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted and combined.
  • Spread hot filling evenly over prepared cookie base.

Prepare Topping:

  • Pulse flour, powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons lemon zest and salt in a food processor until combined, 5 to 6 times.
  • Add butter; pulse until mixture forms pea-size pieces, 4 to 5 times.
  • Add oats; pulse until combined, 2 to 3 times.
  • Using your hands, press the mixture together into small clumps.
  • Sprinkle clumps evenly over filling, pressing lightly to adhere.
  • Bake at 350°F until top is lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes.
  • Cool completely in pan. When ready to cut, lift Lemon Crumble from pan using parchment as handles.
  • Trim the edges, if necessary, and cut into 16 2-inch bars or 32 1 x 2-inch bars.
  • Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

  • When zesting any citrus, only use the colored part of the peel, not the white pith underneath which is bitter.
  • For easier cutting, chill bars in refrigerator for several hours.
  • Store leftover lemon bars in refrigerator.