Creamy Lemon Crumble Bars

Ingredients

• 1.25 cup plain flour
• 1.25 cup rolled oats
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 0.5 cup raw sugar
• 0.5 cup brown sugar (Firmly packed.)
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter (Melted.)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 395 g sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tbsp lemon zest (About 1 lemon.)
• 0.333 cup lemon juice (About 2 lemons.)
• 2 egg yolks (Large eggs.)
• 0.5 tsp lemon extract (Optional.)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F), or 160°C (320°F) for a fan-forced oven. Grease and line a 17 x 28 cm slice tray with baking paper, leaving some overhang to lift out the chilled bars.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, rolled oats, salt, and bicarbonate of soda.

3. 3

   Add the raw sugar and firmly packed brown sugar to the dry ingredients, and stir until evenly combined.

4. 4

   Stir the vanilla extract into the melted butter.

5. 5

   Pour the vanilla butter over the dry mixture and stir until a cohesive, evenly moistened crumble forms.

6. 6

   Press half of the crumble mixture firmly and evenly into the base of the prepared tray.

7. 7

   Bake the base for 15 minutes, then remove it from the oven and set it aside. Leave the oven on at the same temperature.

8. 8

   Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg yolks, and optional lemon extract together until the filling is smooth and well combined.

9. 9

   Pour the lemon filling over the baked base and spread it evenly into the corners.

10. 10

    Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the lemon filling, without pressing it down.

11. 11

    Bake for 23–26 minutes, until the crumble topping is lightly golden and the filling is set around the edges.

12. 12

    Remove the tray from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely.

13. 13

    Cover the cooled tray and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, until thoroughly chilled and firm.

14. 14

    Lift the chilled slab from the tray using the baking-paper overhang and cut it into squares.

Notes

Store covered in the refrigerator. Chilling overnight makes the bars easier to cut cleanly and helps the lemon filling set firmly.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• bars
• baked
• citrus
• lemon
• vegetarian
• make-ahead
• afternoon tea