Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars (Print Version)

Bright, tangy lemon filling nestled under buttery, golden crumbs. A perfect balance of sweet and tart with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

# Ingredient List:

→ Crust and Crumb Topping

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Lemon Filling

06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
12 - Pinch of salt

→ Optional for Serving

13 - Powdered sugar, for dusting

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
03 - Pour the melted butter into the dry mixture. Stir until the mixture is moist and crumbly.
04 - Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
05 - Bake the crust for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly golden.
06 - While the crust bakes, prepare the lemon filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and 1 cup sugar until well combined.
07 - Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until the filling is smooth and lump-free.
08 - Remove the crust from the oven. Pour the lemon filling evenly over the hot crust.
09 - Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the lemon filling.
10 - Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the filling is set and the topping is lightly browned.
11 - Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 1 hour. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 additional hour before slicing into bars.
12 - Once chilled, slice into squares. Dust with powdered sugar if desired before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The buttery crumb topping creates this irresistible texture contrast against the silky lemon filling
  • They keep beautifully in the fridge, getting even better after a day or two
02 -
  • The chilling time is not optional, warm bars will fall apart when you try to cut them
  • Room temperature eggs blend more smoothly into the filling mixture
03 -
  • Use room temperature lemons to get the most juice out of them
  • The parchment paper overhang makes lifting the whole batch out so much easier
Go Back