Description
Bright, buttery lemon oatmeal crumble bars with a tangy lemon filling and a crispy oat topping, perfect for a refreshing summer dessert that can be made ahead.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135g)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g), divided
- ¾ cup cold unsalted butter (170g), cut into cubes
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ⅔ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 large lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan with butter or non-stick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
- In a large bowl or food processor, combine 1 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ cups rolled oats, ½ cup sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and pulse or cut in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits.
- Press about two-thirds of the oat crumble mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
- While the crust bakes, whisk together the eggs, remaining ¼ cup sugar, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, cornstarch, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth and shiny.
- Pour the lemon filling evenly over the hot crust. Sprinkle the remaining oat crumble mixture over the top without pressing. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is set but slightly jiggly in the center.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan (about 1 hour). Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to let the filling firm up before slicing.
Notes
[‘Use cold butter to achieve the perfect crumbly texture.’, ‘Fresh lemon juice is essential for the best flavor; if using bottled, add extra lemon zest.’, ‘Press the crust firmly to help it hold together when slicing.’, ‘Avoid overmixing the filling to prevent bubbles and cracks.’, ‘Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean edges.’, ‘Cool bars completely and refrigerate before slicing to ensure the filling sets properly.’, ‘For extra crisp edges, bake at 375°F (190°C) for the last 5 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approximately
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 15
- Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: lemon bars, oatmeal crumble, summer dessert, lemon dessert, easy baking, make-ahead dessert, tangy lemon bars