Description
Delightful lemon strawberry crumb bars promise summer’s sweetest embrace, blending tart citrus with juicy berries. Crumbly layers and fresh ingredients create a perfect dessert that beckons you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon zest
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to a moderate temperature and thoroughly coating the baking dish with a light layer of grease to prevent sticking.
- Create the foundational crumb mixture by combining dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution of flour, sugar, leavening agent, and seasoning.
- Incorporate cold butter into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips, working until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Introduce the egg and vanilla extract to the crumb mixture, gently blending until the dough achieves a slightly clumpy, cohesive consistency.
- Transfer half of the crumb dough into the prepared baking dish, carefully pressing and distributing the mixture to form an even, compact base layer.
- Prepare the fruity filling by tossing fresh strawberry pieces with bright citrus juice and fragrant zest, ensuring each berry is well-coated with the tangy liquid.
- Evenly spread the strawberry mixture across the initial crumb base, creating a vibrant and juicy layer.
- Delicately sprinkle the remaining crumb dough over the strawberry layer, allowing some fruit to peek through for an appealing visual texture.
- Place the assembled dessert in the preheated oven, baking until the top turns a golden-brown color and the edges become slightly crisp.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely, which helps them set and makes cutting into clean, precise squares easier.
- Once cooled, slice into individual bars and serve, revealing the beautiful layers of crumbly crust and vibrant strawberry filling.
Notes
- Adjust fruit sweetness by selecting ripe, in-season strawberries for maximum natural flavor.
- Prevent soggy bottom by patting strawberries dry with paper towels before adding to the recipe.
- Experiment with alternative flour options like gluten-free blends for those with dietary restrictions.
- Create variation by substituting strawberries with other seasonal berries like raspberries or blueberries for diverse flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg