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    Home » Desserts » Cakes » Lemon Curd Bars

    Lemon Curd Bars

    Last updated on October 8, 2020. Originally posted on March 25, 2019 By Elaine 54 Comments

    658 shares
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    Lemon Curd Bars for Pinterest

    One of the things I love about this lemon curd bar recipe is that the crust has an oatmeal base! I also love that perfect layer of lemon curd: not too much and not too little.

    Closer view of the lemon bars on two plates with tea, lemon and the pan behind them

    Okay, it’s no surprise that I made lemon curd.  Here’s the recipe.  Lemon reminds me of my grandmother!  Holy moly, she made the best lemon desserts.  Seriously.  I could cry thinking of her lemon meringue pies, her lemon bread and other lemon delicacies I can’t quite put into words.

    Lemon is one of the few flavors I would pick over chocolate.  Lemon desserts and cocktails are so scrumptious!  But I don’t eat them as much as I do chocolate.  So I welcome the change and leap in the air when I think of eating these lemon curd bars.

    What do I think about lemon bars I see either in coffee shops or online?  They have too much lemon curd in them.  And don’t get me started on the idea of spreading frosting on them.  Not only do I not want to eat that much sugar, but the taste is too rich for me.  I think of the saying “less is more” with these lemon curd bars. That is definitely the truth.

    What do I think of that fantastically delicious oat/flour/butter mixture that serves as both the crust and the topping to sandwich the perfect amount of lemon curd? It starts my heart singing!

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

    Helpful tips

    • Make your own lemon curd as it is so easy.  I would not recommend using canned lemon filling.
    • Make sure you grease your pan liberally.
    • When you bake these bars, the lemon curd more often than not gets crispy around the sides.  Don’t worry about it.  They are yummy taste treats and the crispy sides are fun to eat first.
    • Make sure to have your butter at room temperature before placing it in your mixer.

    How to make lemon curd bars

    Pre-step

    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and liberally grease an 8 x 8 pan.

    Step one

    Gather the ingredients – old fashioned oats, brown sugar, flour, room temperature butter and baking soda. (A)

    Step two

    Grab your stand mixer and place 6 tablespoons of butter and ½ cup brown sugar in it.  Turn the mixer on medium and cream the two ingredients together. (B)

    On left - oatmeal, sugars, butter, lemon curd and baking soda. On right - butter and sugars mixed in a mixer

    Step three

    Add 1 cup flour, ¾ cup rolled oats, ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon of salt. (C) Turn the mixer on again and mix until everything is incorporated.

    Step four

    Take ¾ of the dough and press it in the greased pan. (D)

    On left - flour, oats and baking soda added to the butter/sugar mixture. On right square pan with the crust layer pressed down

    Step five

    Spread about 1.5 – 2 cups of the lemon curd on the dough layer. (E)

    Step six

    Take the rest of the oat mixture and crumble it over the lemon curd. (F)

    On left - lemon curd dolloped on the crust layer. On right, more batter poured on the curd layer

    Step seven

    Place the pan into the oven and bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

    Freshly baked lemon bars in a square pan with two oven mitts in the background

    Let the lemon bars cool 10 minutes before you cut into them.

    Time to serve the bars.

    A piece of the lemon bar being lifted out of the pan and over a plate with a fork on it

    Doesn’t that look good?  I like the crispy little edges.  When I’m left to my own devices, I eat that part first.

    Lemon bars on two white plates with tea and the pan of bars in the background

    Soooooo good.

    I hope you enjoyed this lemon curd bars recipe!

    Please feel free to leave me a lemon lovin’ comment.

    And as always, may all your dishes be delish.

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

    Spatula with a lemon bar on it held over a square pan with more bars in it

    Lemon Curd Bars

    These lemon curd bars are delicious and easy to make! My family loves them.
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Dessert
    Keyword: fruit bars, lemon curd bars, ways to use lemon curd
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 9 bars
    Calories: 276kcal
    Author: Elaine Benoit

    Ingredients

    • 6 tablespoons butter (softened – room temperature)
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup spelt flour (or any flour)
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup oats (old fashioned)
    • 1.5 cup lemon curd (1.5 – 2 cups)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 F
    • Grease pan
    • In a mixer, add butter and sugar. Mix on medium until incorporated
    • Add flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats and turn the mixer on medium. Mix until incorporated
    • Press ¾ of the dough in the bottom of the pan
    • Spread lemon curd over that layer
    • Sprinkle the remaining dough on top of the lemon curd layer
    • Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Mine took 20 minutes
    • Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting them into bars
    • Serve
    • Smile
    • Enjoy

    Equipment

    8 x 8 pan
    stand mixer
    See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    Tips for Making this Lemony treat:
    • Make your own lemon curd as it is so easy.  I would not recommend using canned lemon filling.
    • Make sure you grease your pan liberally.
    • When you bake these bars, the lemon curd more often than not gets crispy around the sides.  Don’t worry about it.  They are yummy taste treats and the crispy sides are fun to eat first.
    • Make sure to have your butter at room temperature before placing it in your mixer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 305mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Originally published May of 2017.

    « Gin Lime Rickey Cocktail
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    658 shares

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you,  if you click the link and buy. You can read my disclosure here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim @ Three Olives Branch

      May 24, 2017 at 11:16 am

      These look wonderful! I am a “middle” piece person myself. Love all of the topping, yum!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 24, 2017 at 11:46 am

        Thanks Kim!

        Reply
    2. Lindsay Cotter

      May 24, 2017 at 11:43 am

      These lemon curd bars look fantastic! They’ll be a real crowd-pleaser at summer potluck parties! So nice that you have those memories of your grandmother surrounding your love for all things lemon!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 24, 2017 at 11:46 am

        Thanks Lindsay!! That was sweet of you to say that about my memories of my grandmother!

        Reply
    3. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings

      May 24, 2017 at 11:58 am

      I love the name of this first of all and second, they look delicious. How sweet that you always return containers with food in them. Wish I was your neighbor!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 24, 2017 at 12:34 pm

        Hehe Karen! Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Suzy

      May 24, 2017 at 11:59 am

      My family would love these bars! Pinning to try.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 24, 2017 at 12:33 pm

        Thanks Suzy. I hope you enjoy it when you do!

        Reply
    5. Neena | Paint the Kitchen Red

      May 24, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      These look so tasty! I do make lemon bars but the addition of oatmeal crumble on top takes it to the next level. I’m definitely making this!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 24, 2017 at 12:33 pm

        Thanks Neena! It’s a family favorite!

        Reply
    6. Gabby

      May 25, 2017 at 6:53 am

      Yum! I will definitely give these a go. I love lemon anything. Love the way it can make your face cave in too! ?

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 28, 2017 at 6:30 pm

        Haha Gabby, for sure!

        Reply
    7. Jas @All that's Jas

      May 25, 2017 at 9:05 am

      Mmm, I could use a piece or two with my morning coffee. We love lemon desserts! Saving this one. 🙂

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 25, 2017 at 9:13 am

        Thank you Jas!!

        Reply
    8. Chris

      May 25, 2017 at 9:25 am

      This is one outstanding recipe! I love the oat mixture with the lemon. I could eat a whole pan of these things.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 26, 2017 at 3:47 pm

        I beat you to half of them. 😉

        Reply
    9. Dan from Platter Talk

      March 25, 2019 at 12:24 pm

      Lemon curd is a favorite treat of mine but I’ve never made bars with it before, what a delicious idea! I’m looking forward to making this with my kids sometime this week. Thanks so much for the beautiful post.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 25, 2019 at 1:18 pm

        Thanks so much Dan! It’s so yummy in bars – (and in frozen margaritas! ;))

        Reply
    10. Gloria

      March 25, 2019 at 3:40 pm

      YES please. I am a LEMON lover. I can eat lemon curd by the spoonful. What a great dessert for Easter dinner.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 25, 2019 at 5:04 pm

        Thanks so much Gloria! We eat a lot of lemon baked goods this time of the year!

        Reply
    11. ORCHIDS AND SWEET TEA, LLC

      March 26, 2019 at 12:10 am

      These Lemon Curd Bars look so delicious!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        Thanks Shanika!

        Reply
    12. Tisha

      March 26, 2019 at 12:16 am

      Such a great spring dessert!! Love lemon!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        Thank you Tisha! I too think of spring when I eat it!

        Reply
    13. Meghna

      March 26, 2019 at 12:32 am

      The oatmeal crumble on the top…wow! This is such a brilliant addition, I’ll try your way soon. Thanks for the amazing recipe.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        Thank Meghna. I hope you enjoy it when you do!

        Reply
    14. Jere Cassidy

      March 26, 2019 at 12:35 am

      I think I agree with you in picking lemon over chocolate. I never thought about that, but it’s true now that you brought that up. My lemon trees are covered in fruit right now so I think these bars will perfect.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:24 pm

        Yum! I used to have a lemon and orange tree back in CA and I miss them! Thanks Jere!

        Reply
    15. Natalie

      March 26, 2019 at 1:14 am

      I love lemon bars! These look so delicious and unique – different than my usual recipe. Can’t wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:25 pm

        Thanks Natalie! I love lemon bars done this way. I love them with shortbread too but this is my favorite.

        Reply
    16. Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen

      March 26, 2019 at 11:49 am

      I’m such a huge fan of anything lemony, these look so easy to put together and so delicious! Look forward to trying them this Spring!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 26, 2019 at 4:25 pm

        Thanks so much Carrie! I appreciate it.

        Reply
    17. Denise

      March 28, 2019 at 9:12 am

      Lemon bars reminds me of my Mom, she loves them. I will have to try this recipe for sure.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 28, 2019 at 9:44 am

        Thanks Denise!! They remind me of my grandmother!

        Reply
    18. Anne

      March 28, 2019 at 9:01 pm

      These are the perfect dessert sweet and slightly tart! I love the crust too

      Reply
      • Elaine

        March 29, 2019 at 2:29 pm

        Thanks so much Anne!

        Reply
    19. Julie

      March 29, 2019 at 4:48 pm

      I LOVE lemon curd! It’s such a staple in our house – we put it on pancakes or waffles, stir it into yogurt, put a dollop on top of a slice of pound cake. But one thing I haven’t tried is baking it into lemon bars. Can’t wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:33 am

        Us too, Julie. Hubby especially loves it! Thanks for your comment!

        Reply
    20. Nicoletta

      March 30, 2019 at 3:08 am

      I like this version of a lemon bar with oats! They look so good, and I love the tang from the lemon curd. I too love chocolate but cannot resist lemon desserts 🙂 .

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:35 am

        Thanks so much Nicoletta!! Me too Nicoletta! Lemon is a good change in place of chocolate.

        Reply
    21. Kelly Anthony

      March 31, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      Lemon curd is seriously one of my favorites and in these bars with the oats and brown sugar….YUM! I can only imagine the flavor is AMAZING!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:36 am

        Thanks so much Kelly! It really is a great bar!

        Reply
    22. Natalie

      March 31, 2019 at 4:14 pm

      Lemons are amazing this time of year. And these bars look fantastic! I’m so into lemony desserts lately so I will definitely give this recipe a try. Love that you you used spelt flour.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:36 am

        Thanks so much Natalie! 🙂

        Reply
    23. Charity

      March 31, 2019 at 8:23 pm

      I’d pick lemon over chocolate too! These bars look yummy with an old fashioned appeal. The kind you’d take to a potluck!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:37 am

        Exactly! Thanks Charity!

        Reply
    24. Analida Braeger

      March 31, 2019 at 8:55 pm

      These beautiful little lemon curd bars remind me of summer picnics! I LOVE! the oatmeal base, they look so delicious and a little crunchy ! 🙂

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:38 am

        They are crunchy around the edges which is one of my favorite parts! Thanks Analida!

        Reply
    25. Eileen Kelly

      March 31, 2019 at 11:56 pm

      I am loving your recipe! Lemon is a favorite flavor and you have made the recipe so easy to follow! This is a winner of a recipe for me!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:38 am

        Thanks Eileen! I appreciate it!

        Reply
    26. Jo

      April 01, 2019 at 4:08 am

      Those lemon curd bars look fantastic! With summer approaching,they’ll be a crowd pleaser for any gathering!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 01, 2019 at 10:39 am

        They are definitely loved by everyone who eats them.

        Reply
    27. Ping

      April 17, 2019 at 9:53 pm

      This was a hit at work today! Everyone was raving about it! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 18, 2019 at 10:01 am

        Thanks so much Ping for letting me know! I’m glad your work mates liked it!

        Reply

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