Today we’re sharing a recipe for Lemon Crumble Bars. These are dessert bars filled with lemon filling and flavor in between two layers of a brown sugar oatmeal crust.
All about Lemon Crumble Bars
These aren’t just your typical Lemon Bars or Lemon Brownies. They really stand alone as being one of the best lemon desserts. If you love lemon, you love oatmeal cookies, and you love good things, then you’re sure to love these lemon crumble bars too.
The oatmeal layer uses real butter, brown sugar and rolled oats. The lemon layer uses sweetened condensed milk, fresh squeezed lemons and lemon zest. When you bake these bars, many describe the lemon layer as slightly caramelizing and for these bars to mimic cheesecake bars.
There are two parts to this recipe – the oatmeal layers and the lemon filling. You press ¾ of the oatmeal layer into the bottom of the baking dish for a “crust.” You then prepare your lemon filling which you pour on top of this crust and then crumble the rest of the oatmeal filling over top of this layer.
Fresh squeezed lemon juice is really best for the lemon layer. Bottled lemon juice just doesn’t compare to the fresh lemon taste that fresh squeezed lemons offer. When you’re using a bottled lemon juice, you notice more of an artificial lemon flavor than compared to freshly squeezed juice. However, if you only have bottled lemon juice, that will do in a pinch.
Lemon Crumble Bars
These bars with layers of brown sugar oatmeal and lemon filling are just divine!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 tsp lemon extract
- zest and juice of 2 lemons
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
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In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar.
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Add in your flour, salt, baking powder, and oats. Mix until just combined.
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Pour 3/4 of this mixture into your baking pan and press down slightly with the bottom of a jar or cup to make the oatmeal crust. Set the remaining oat crumble mixture aside.
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To make the lemon filling, mix together the sweetened condensed milk, lemon extract, lemon zest and lemon juice. Then pour this layer over your oatmeal crust.
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Lastly crumble the remaining oat mixture over top of the lemon layer. Press down slightly to help this mixture bake into the bars better.
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Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden brown.
How long will they keep?
These bars can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. If you store them in the refrigerator, they will last up to 5 days. You can freeze the bars for up to 3 months.
We’d love to hear what you think about this recipe. What is your favorite lemon recipe? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for visiting Sunup to Sundown! Please subscribe, like or share this post with others who could benefit from it.
