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Tangy Lemon Crumb Bars

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These tangy lemon crumb bars feature a bright, balanced lemon filling with a buttery, flaky crumble topping. Easy to make and perfect for gatherings or a cozy homemade treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups (250 g) flour, 1 cup (200 g) sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add cold, cubed butter and cut into the flour using a pastry cutter or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.
  3. Reserve about 1 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  4. Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden around the edges.
  5. While the crust bakes, whisk together eggs, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, 1 ½ cups (300 g) sugar, and ¼ cup (30 g) flour in a medium bowl until smooth and fully combined.
  6. Pour the lemon filling evenly over the warm crust once it is out of the oven.
  7. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top to form the buttery crumble layer.
  8. Return to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
  9. Let the bars cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours or refrigerate for faster cooling to allow the filling to set fully.
  10. Cut into squares or rectangles using a sharp knife, wiping the knife with a warm damp cloth between cuts for neater edges.
  11. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Use cold butter straight from the fridge for the crumble topping to create flaky texture. Baking the crust first prevents sogginess. Let bars cool completely before cutting for clean slices. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly. For brighter lemon flavor, add 1 teaspoon lemon extract to filling. Gluten-free and dairy-free variations are possible with substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon bars, lemon crumb bars, tangy lemon dessert, homemade lemon bars, crumb topping, easy lemon bars, lemon dessert recipe

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/tangy-lemon-crumb-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-bars-with-buttery-topping/