Description
Lemon strawberry crumb bars blend tangy citrus with sweet summer berries in a delightful dessert. Crumbly, buttery layers promise a perfect balance of flavors that will satisfy any sweet craving.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks/226 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and generously coat a baking pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- Create the base mixture by blending dry ingredients, then incorporate cold butter using a pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Firmly press half of the crumbly mixture into the prepared pan, creating an even, compact foundation for the dessert.
- Toss fresh strawberries with tangy lemon juice, fragrant lemon zest, and cornstarch to develop a vibrant, glossy fruit filling.
- Carefully distribute the fruit mixture across the initial crumb layer, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Delicately scatter the remaining crumb mixture over the strawberry layer, allowing some fruit to peek through.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and bubbling edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps set the filling and makes cutting easier.
- Once cooled, slice into neat squares and serve as a delightful dessert or sweet afternoon treat.
Notes
- Always use fresh, ripe strawberries for the most vibrant flavor and natural sweetness in your bars.
- Zest the lemon before juicing to maximize the citrusy essence throughout the dessert.
- Ensure butter is cold when cutting into the flour mixture to create a perfectly flaky, crumbly texture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend and add a pinch of xanthan gum for better binding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg