Lemon Cream Crumb Bars: Sweet & Zesty Treat
These Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors with varied textures. A buttery, tender cookie crust forms the base, layered with a smooth, creamy lemon filling that provides a bright, zesty tang. The bars are finished with a generous crumble topping made from the same cookie dough, creating a pleasant contrast. Baked to a golden perfection, they are often garnished with fresh lemon zest, enhancing their aromatic appeal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Ingredients
- For the Cookie Dough (Crust and Crumble):
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- For the Lemon Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and lemon zest. Use a pastry blender, your fingertips, or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Form the Crust: Press about two-thirds of the cookie dough mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy. Beat in the egg, fresh lemon juice, vanilla extract, and lemon zest until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Assemble the Bars: Pour the lemon cream cheese filling evenly over the cookie crust in the pan.
- Add the Crumble Topping: Sprinkle the remaining one-third of the cookie dough mixture evenly over the cream cheese filling.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden brown and the filling is set with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours, or until thoroughly chilled, to allow the filling to firm up for clean slicing.
- Serve: Once chilled, cut into bars and serve.
Notes
Ensure your butter is very cold when making the cookie dough for the best crumbly texture.
Do not overmix the cream cheese filling; mix just until smooth to maintain its creamy consistency.
Chilling the bars completely is crucial for clean, neat slices.
Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Nutrition
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Protein: 3g