Description
Zesty lemon crumb bars blend tangy citrus with buttery shortbread for a delightful dessert. Rich crumb layers promise a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken tenders
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Foundation: Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring smooth coverage and slight overhang for effortless removal.
- Craft Crumb Base: Blend flour, sugar, and salt, then integrate cold butter until mixture resembles coarse, textured crumbs. Press two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the pan, creating a solid, compact foundation.
- Construct Lemon Filling: Whisk eggs, sugar, flour, lemon zest, and juice until silky smooth, eliminating any potential lumps. Gently cascade the vibrant citrus mixture over the pre-baked crust, ensuring uniform distribution.
- Apply Crumb Topping: Generously scatter the remaining crumb mixture across the lemon filling, creating a rustic, textured landscape that promises delightful crunch and visual intrigue.
- Bake and Transform: Position the pan in a preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. The bars are ready when edges turn golden and the center maintains a subtle, seductive jiggle when nudged.
- Cool and Set: Allow the bars to rest at room temperature, enabling the filling to firm and stabilize. The cooling process is crucial for achieving perfect texture and clean-cut presentation.
- Finish and Serve: Extract the bars using parchment paper, transfer to a cutting board, and slice into precise squares. Delicately dust with powdered sugar, adding a whisper of sweetness and elegant finale to these zesty, crumbly delights.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Tip: Use cold butter straight from the refrigerator for the crumb mixture to achieve a perfectly flaky, crumbly texture that doesn’t become greasy.
- Zest Technique: Grate lemon zest carefully to avoid the bitter white pith, focusing only on the bright yellow outer layer for maximum citrus flavor intensity.
- Baking Precision: Check doneness by looking for golden edges and a slightly jiggly center – this ensures the bars remain moist and won’t become dry or overcooked.
- Cutting Trick: Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling and achieve clean, sharp edges that look professionally prepared.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg