Lemon Crumb Bars are dessert bars filled with lemon filling and flavor in between two layers of an oatmeal crust. They are one of the BEST lemon desserts I have ever had! If you love lemon desserts, be sure to also try my Lemon Bars and Lemon Brownies!
Lemon Crumb Bars
When life gives you lemons, make these Lemon Crumb Bars! They start with the oat crust from my Apple Cream Cheese Bars (without the cinnamon). And then the oatmeal layers are separated by a lemon filling that you can taste in every bite. There is a fantastic fusion of texture and flavor in these bars… they are unlike any other lemon dessert on my website!
Bars Ingredients
There are two parts to this recipe–the oatmeal layers and the lemon filling.
Oats: Use quick-cooking oats. Quick oats are more processed than old-fashioned oats, which allows the oats to cook faster.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: Be sure to check the labels carefully when buying sweetened condensed milk. Do not use evaporated milk in this recipe.
Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice from about 5 lemons for the best taste. We tested this recipe using bottled lemon juice, but there was a difference in flavor. I will get to that later.
Lemon Zest: For even more lemon flavor in each bite, add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the filling.
Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice vs. Bottled Lemon Juice
As I stated earlier, we tested these bars two times–one time using freshly squeezed lemon juice and the second time using store-bought juice. When taste-tested side by side, the bars that were made with freshly squeezed juice won by a landslide. Of course, there is always one odd one out, as they say, who preferred the bottled juice.
If using the bottled juice, you will notice more of an artificial lemon flavor compared to freshly squeezed juice. However, if you only have bottled juice, the bars are still lemony and tasty.
How to Store Lemon Crumb Bars
Lemon Crumb 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.
More Delicious Bars
Lemon Crumb Bars
Ingredients
Oat Crust
- 1 cup (80 g) quick-cooking oats
- 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup (1½ sticks / 170 g) unsalted butter. melted
Lemon Filling
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 large egg yolks
- ½ cup (115 g) freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 5 lemons
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.
Oat Crust
- In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour melted butter over the mixture and mix together until crumbly. Be careful not to overmix so it will be crumbly for the top later.
- Measure out ½ of the mixture (about 2 cups), and set it aside to reserve for topping.
- Pour the remaining mixture into the lined baking dish. Press firmly to the bottom of the pan.
- Bake 12-15 minutes, or until a golden brown. Set aside to cool slightly while you make the lemon filling.
Lemon Filling
- In a large bowl, add sweetened condensed milk, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Assembly
- Spread lemon mixture over the top of the baked oat mixture.
- Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the top.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
- Let come to room temperature and then refrigerate 1 hour before serving. (Best enjoyed at room temperature.)
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Best 🍋 bars ever!!!
Can bottled lemon juice be used? If so, how much for 9 x 13 pan?
I wrote about it a couple of times in the post:
“Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice vs. Bottled Lemon Juice
As I stated earlier, we tested these bars two times–one time using freshly squeezed lemon juice and the second time using store-bought juice. When taste-tested side by side, the bars that were made with freshly squeezed juice won by a landslide. Of course, there is always one odd one out, as they say, who preferred the bottled juice. “
Had you had the good manners to read the full post, and also say ‘please’ when you ask someone for something, I would not have to write this to you! Manners cost nothing, yet you presume iambaker has nothing better to do than answer your questions! Dear me!
The creator already answered this question
It won’t be as good
The quantity does not change the flavor does
Has anyone tried this with gluten free flour?
Yes! I used Cup4Cup GF flour blend and GF oats (pulsed a few times in food processor to make them more like quick cooking oats). Delicious!
Airfryer for baking ?
This recipe was not designed for an air fryer.
I have made them 3 times already and people can’t get enough of them. I’ve been told I could make them every Week and they would never get tired of them!! I’ll be making them again today for covered dish tomorrow…I always double recipe, but will make 3 today. So delicious!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I can’t wait to try these, they look so yummy!
Silly question. For the eggs it’s just egg yolks not the entire egg?
Does it say whole eggs or egg yolks in the recipe??
Lemon fillings like this or lemon pie filling will always have just egg yolks. The egg yolks and the lemon juice will create more richness plus thickness leaving the egg whites out. I’m sorry that person was not kind enough to just be helpful and wasted time replying. This is a great recipe. It’s simple. Try it if you like lemon. Good luck!
Please read the ingredients
It is extremely important to follow these
They clearly state
Egg yolks
Could I use margarine instead of butter?
Hi I am a baker. Absolutely superb! I made this just tonight and I can’t really wait to give a bite right away. ohh I really love the lemon flavor. But I lower the sugar instead of 1 cup I used 1/3 only since the filling is sweetened already.. Bon Appetit! Thank you so much.
Are you using a hand mixer or just a spoon to mix ingredients