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–+ servings
A stack of creamy lemon shortbread crumb bars with more bars behind.

Creamy Lemon Shortbread Crumb Bars

Olivia Daly
Creamy lemon shortbread crumb bars are perfectly buttery, crumbly shortbread combined with a really simple creamy lemon pie filling that's the perfect combination of sweet and tart.
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 16
Calories 306 kcal

Ingredients
  

Shortbread

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (45g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups (360g) AP flour

Lemon Filling

  • Zest from 2 lemons
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp (18g) cornstarch
  • 400g/14oz can sweetened condensed milk (300mL can in Canada)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350℉.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, add the butter and sugars. Cream together for 4 minutes. Add in the vanilla and salt and mix until combined.
  • Add in the flour and mix until mixture looks dry and crumbly. It will be kind of like wet sand. If you push it together with your fingers, it will stick. Now add 2/3 of the dough to the pan and push down, making it as even as possible. Prebake the crust for 20 minutes.
  • While the crust bakes, make the lemon filling. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and cornstarch to a medium mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Then add in the condensed milk, salt and vanilla and whisk until well combined.
  • Once the crust has prebaked, let it rest for 1 minute, then pour the lemon filling on top, spreading it evenly. Then take the rest of your shortbread and crumble it evenly on top. You can put big crumbs or little. I like to do a mixture.
  • Put it back in the oven for an additional 18-20 minutes or until the centre of the filling is just set. It should have the very slightest jiggle, but only in the centre and the top crumbs should be starting to turn slightly golden.
  • Allow to cool in the pan before removing by the parchment paper. Slice into squares and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 squareCalories: 306kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.6gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 144mgPotassium: 134mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 23gCalcium: 82mgIron: 1.4mg
Keyword Creamy lemon shortbread crumb bars, Lemon shortbread crumb bars
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