Description
Irresistible lemon strawberry crumb bars blend tangy citrus with sweet summer berries in a delightful dessert. Crumbly layers of buttery crust and fresh fruit create a perfect balance that will satisfy your sweet tooth and brighten any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Wet and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create the crumb base by mixing flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl, then incorporate cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Set aside ½ cup of the crumb mixture for topping, then firmly press the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish to form an even crust.
- Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes until it develops a light golden color and appears slightly set.
- While the crust bakes, combine fresh strawberries with lemon zest, lemon juice, cornstarch, and brown sugar in a separate bowl, gently mixing to coat the fruit evenly.
- Once the crust is lightly golden, spread the strawberry mixture across the entire surface, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the strawberry layer, creating a textured and rustic topping.
- Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit filling.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the filling set and makes cutting easier.
- Once cooled, slice into neat squares and serve.
Notes
- Adjust strawberry sweetness by tasting the fruit beforehand and modifying brown sugar quantity to balance tartness.
- Ensure butter is cold when cutting into crumb mixture for maximum flakiness and better texture separation.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for most intense flavor and vibrant color in the dessert bars.
- Store bars in refrigerator for up to 3 days, covering loosely with plastic wrap to maintain crispness of crumb topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg