Ingredients
Scale
Gathering ingredients for these bars is as easy as pie, or in this case, bars! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds (optional, but recommended for extra crunch)
If you’re all out of almonds, swap them out for pecans or walnuts. And if fresh lemons are a no-go, bottled lemon juice can step in as a substitute, though nothing beats the zing of fresh zest!
Instructions
Ready to bake? Let’s dive into the steps that will bring these delightful bars to life:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, softened butter, and salt. Mix until you have a crumbly dough.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan, creating a firm base. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
- In another bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Pour the lemon mixture over the pre-baked crust and sprinkle the top with crushed graham crackers and chopped almonds for that signature crunch.
- Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is slightly wobbly.
- Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars. This is the hardest part—waiting! But trust me, it’s worth it.
I like to involve my kids in this step. They love smashing the graham crackers—messy, but oh-so-fun!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: lemon crunch bars, recipe, cooking, food