Homemade Lemon Crumb Bars (Printable)

Enjoy delightful lemon bars with a vibrant citrus filling and golden, buttery crumb topping. A perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

# What you'll need:

→ For the 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

→ For the 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

# Method:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). 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 Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the tangy lemon curd and buttery crumbs is absolute perfection in every bite
  • They come together faster than you think, but taste like you spent all afternoon on them
  • Everyone assumes they are complicated, but the recipe is secretly forgiving and straightforward
02 -
  • Cutting these bars before they are completely chilled results in a messy, runny situation
  • The lemon curd continues to set as it cools, so a slight jiggle in the oven is perfectly normal
  • Room temperature lemons yield more juice, so let them sit out before zesting and squeezing
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the finest, most aromatic zest without any bitter white pith
  • Lining your pan with parchment paper handles that creates sling for easy lifting out
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