Description
A bright, zesty layered dessert featuring a buttery crumble topping, tangy lemon curd, and a soft cakey base. This easy recipe balances tartness and sweetness for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Base:
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Lemon Filling:
- ⅓ cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3 tbsp (45g) unsalted butter, melted
- For the Crumble Topping:
- ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (70g) packed brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (75g) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- Optional: 2 tbsp ground almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, combine 1 ½ cups flour and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Add cold, cubed butter and rub in with fingers or pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, mix gently to form dough. Press evenly into greased 8×8 inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden but not fully baked.
- While base bakes, whisk ½ cup sugar and 3 eggs in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in fresh lemon juice and zest. Slowly whisk in melted butter until silky and pourable.
- In separate bowl, mix ¾ cup flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, and optional ground almonds. Cut in ⅓ cup cold butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Use food processor if available.
- Remove base from oven. Pour lemon filling evenly over warm base. Sprinkle crumble topping liberally over lemon layer.
- Return to oven and bake 25-30 minutes until top is golden and lemon filling is set but slightly wobbly.
- Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Chill at least 2 hours before cutting into squares. Use sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for neat edges.
Notes
Keep butter cold for flaky base and crumbly topping. Zest lemons before juicing. Do not overmix dough to avoid toughness. Use a water bath for creamier filling if desired. Chill slice well before cutting for best texture. Fresh lemon juice and zest are recommended for best flavor. Can substitute gluten-free flour and dairy-free butter alternatives as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/16th of t
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: lemon crumble slice, lemon dessert, layered dessert, easy lemon recipe, zesty lemon slice, crumble topping, lemon curd dessert