Description
These Lemon Crumb Bars are a sweet, tangy treat with a creamy lemon center and buttery crumb crust. Perfect for spring gatherings, potlucks, or quick desserts, they’re easy to make and deliver a perfect balance of flavor and texture—no mixer required.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust and Crumble:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup finely chopped pecans (optional)
For the Lemon Filling:
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest (from 2–3 lemons)
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 large egg yolks
Optional Toppings:
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Extra lemon zest or candied lemon peel
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Make the crust and crumble: In a large bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir in flour until combined. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping. Press remaining into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Prepare the lemon filling: In a separate bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and egg yolks until smooth. Pour over crust.
- Top and bake: Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture on top. Bake for 25–30 minutes until edges are golden and center is mostly set.
- Cool and chill: Cool completely at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor.
- Chill bars thoroughly for clean slices.
- Pecans are optional—use almonds or omit entirely.
- Store in fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for 2 months.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a beautiful finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Lemon Crumb Bars, Lemon Crumble Bars Recipe, Quick Easy Bars, Lemon Bars with Pecan Crust, Lemon Crunch Bars