These Lemon Crumb Bars are easy easy-to-make sweet treat to bake and share.  Using fresh lemon juice, these Lemon Crumb Bars have the most delicious creamy filling and a sweet, crumbly oat topping.

Lemon Crumb Bar

Lemon Bars are one of those classic, iconic desserts that people are drawn to at a party.  Turning lemon bars into Lemon Crumb Bars is most definitely a nice twist.  These bars have a crust that mirrors the crumb topping.  Half of the crust mixture is patted into the bottom of the pan to create the crust, and then the lemon filling mixture is poured on top.  The remaining crust mixture is crumbled on top before baking.

I love these Lemon Crumb Bars because they’re more of a sturdy bar recipe than classic lemon bars.  They’re certainly easier to pick up and eat without getting your hands all gooey.

Lemon Crumb Bar with lemons

Is lemon juice the same as real lemons?

No!  If you try to use bottled lemon juice for this recipe, it will not taste the same.  Taste bottled lemon juice, and you’ll find that the flavor is a little “off.”  Stick with using fresh lemons.  

How much juice can you get from a lemon?

One fresh lemon yields about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.  This recipe calls for 1/2 cup lemon juice, so you’ll need about 4 lemons.  Look for lemons that feel soft when you pick them up and squeeze them.  The softer lemons will be more ripe, and you’ll be able to squeeze more juice out of them.  Harder lemons usually have a thicker skin and are nearly impossible to squeeze!  One lemon will yield about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.  Expert tip:  Don’t forget to zest your lemon before cutting and squeezing it!

Lemon Crumb Bar

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated?

I do refrigerate the whole pan before I cut lemon bars.  They’ll cut much neater and easier that way.  Once cut, I like to refrigerate these Lemon Crumb Bars if I plan on having them hang around for a while.  But they are certainly going to be fine sitting at room temperature for several hours.  Lemon Bars will keep longer in the refrigerator too.  Keep them around for about 4 days and they’ll be nice and fresh.

Recipes using Lemons:

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Lemon Crumb Bars

Easy recipe for Lemon Crumb Bars- a delicious filling!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
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Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, juice and lemon zest. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a 3rd bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and blend in the sugar. Add the oats and flour mixture and mix until crumbly. Spread half of the mixture in the bottom of a 9x12-inch greased baking pan. Pat the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan. Spread the liquid mixture over the top and cover with the remaining crumb mixture.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges are browned. Cool in the pan at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  • Cut into 2-inch squares and chill in pan until firm. Remove squares from the pan when firm.

Notes

  • Be careful! If you try to remove the squares from the pan too early, they will fall apart.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 179kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 119mg, Potassium: 122mg, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 205IU, Vitamin C: 2.6mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4 Comments

  1. Jane Terry says:

    Would swapping in lime for the lemon work??

    1. Lori Lange says:

      To make lime crumb bars? I don’t see why not!

  2. Sue wade says:

    Can you freeze lemon crumb bars please?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      You should be able to freeze them just fine in a well sealed container.