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–+ servings

Lemon Bars with Condensed Milk

Delightful lemon bars combining sweet and tart flavors with a buttery crust and creamy filling, perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Serving Size 12 servings

Ingredients

For the crust

  • 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature If using salted butter, omit the salt below.
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¾ cups quick-cooking oats

For the filling

  • 21 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 ½ cans)
  • ¾ cup fresh lemon juice Approximately from 3 large lemons.
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon remaining lemon zest Use the zest from the lemons used for juice.

Instructions

Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang for easy removal later.
  • In a mixer, beat together the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest until creamy and well-combined.
  • Gradually add the flour, oats, and salt to the mixture, mixing until just combined.
  • Press half of the dough firmly into the prepared baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden. While the crust bakes, refrigerate the remaining dough.

Making the filling

  • For the filling, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, remaining lemon zest, egg yolks, and lemon juice until the mixture is thick and smooth.

Baking

  • Once the crust is done, remove it from the oven and pour the lemon filling over the crust.
  • Crumble the remaining oat dough on top of the filling.
  • Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 25–30 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling is set.

Cooling and Serving

  • Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
  • For an even firmer texture, refrigerate the bars before serving.

Notes

These bars are best served chilled. Dust lightly with powdered sugar for an elegant touch. Serve with fresh berries or whipped cream. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to three months.