These Lemon Crumbles are irresistible oat bars that strike the perfect harmony of zesty and sweet.
A buttery, crumbly oat base and topping sandwich a luscious, creamy lemon filling that’s just the right balance of tart and mildly sweet.
Each bite delivers a burst of bright lemony flavor, complemented by the hearty, slightly nutty texture of oats. The golden, crunchy crumble contrasts beautifully with the smooth, velvety center, making these bars a delightful treat for any occasion—be it a cozy afternoon snack, a picnic dessert, or a light finish to a meal.
Easy to make and even easier to love, these lemony oat bars are a refreshing twist on a classic crumble that will leave you reaching for seconds.
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The creamy filling is flavored with fresh lemon juice and zest to bring out that fresh citrus flavor.
To Make This Recipe You Will Need:
- all-purpose flour
- salt
- baking soda
- brown sugar
- rolled oats
- unsalted butter, room temperature
- sweetened condensed milk
- fresh lemon zest & juice
- mixing bowls
- wooden spoon or other utensil
- 9″ square baking pan
You will love the crunchy texture that these bars have. And the fact that they are just a touch sweet is an added bonus.
Enjoy one of these bars with an afternoon cup of coffee or tea.
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Lemon Crumbles
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1¼ c all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ c brown sugar
- 1 c rolled oats
- ½ c unsalted butter, room temperature
For the Filling
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk, 1 can
- 1 Tb fresh lemon zest
- ¼ c fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- To begin, preheat your oven to 375°(F).
- Grease a 9×9 baking dish and set it aside for now.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking soda, brown sugar, and oats. Mix in the butter until it forms a crumbly mixture.
- Press half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of your baking dish.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- While it is baking, whisk together the condensed milk, lemon zest, and juice until fully combined.
- When the base has baked, spread the filling over the crust. Smooth it out.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb topping over the filling, evenly.
- Gently press it down with your hand to make it rather smooth.
- Bake for an additional 20 minutes, until just golden.
- Let the pan cool completely.
- Cut into bars.
- Enjoy!
Equipment Used
- square baking dish 9×9"
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
Unit Conversions:
Unit Conversion for measurements (if displayed), going from US to Metric is an auto-generated conversion. If you are using the metric measurements, please double-check to confirm that these are accurate with your favorite preferred conversion tool.
This recipe was originally published in 2019, post updated in 2025.
Oh my, these sound incredible. Can’t wait to try them. Once I do I’ll tag you on IG.
Feel better soon friend 🧡
Thank you Shelly!