Lemon-Blueberry Bars

These delightful lemon-blueberry bars are perfect for anyone who loves that sweet and tangy combo! Kids and adults will go crazy for these treats, and the best part is they’re packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries. Plus, they’re so easy to make – you’ll have them ready in no time!

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes, Serves: 9 people.

Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Low-Sodium, Soy-Free, Vegetarian.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 273 Calories, 11g Fat, 40g Carbs, 5g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Graham cracker crumbs: You’ll need 1¼ cups of these golden crumbs. You can buy them ready-made or crush your own graham crackers in a food processor – both work great!

Salted butter: 4 tablespoons melted will give your crust that rich, buttery flavor. Make sure it’s completely melted but not too hot.

Granulated sugar: Just 1 tablespoon adds the perfect touch of sweetness to your crust. Regular white sugar works perfectly here.

Fresh lemon: You’ll need the zest from 1 whole lemon, which you’ll divide between the crust and filling. Fresh lemons give the best flavor!

Sweetened condensed milk: One 14-ounce can creates that creamy, dreamy filling texture. This is what makes these bars so rich and satisfying.

Fresh lemon juice: ½ cup gives these bars their bright, tangy flavor. Freshly squeezed is best, but bottled works in a pinch.

Large egg: One egg helps bind everything together and creates that perfect custard-like texture.

Fresh blueberries: 1 cup of these little gems adds bursts of sweet flavor and gorgeous color. Fresh is best, but you can use frozen if that’s what you have!

How to Make Lemon-Blueberry Bars

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and half the lemon zest in a medium bowl. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into your prepared pan. Bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.

Step 2: While your crust cools, whisk together the condensed milk, lemon juice, egg, and remaining lemon zest in a medium bowl. Make sure everything is thoroughly combined! Gently stir in your fresh blueberries. Pour this filling evenly over your baked crust.

Step 3: Bake until the filling is set, about 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour more before cutting into squares.

Easy and Quick Lemon-Blueberry Bars Version

Want to speed things up? You can use a pre-made graham cracker crust from the store! Just press 1 cup of fresh blueberries into the bottom of the crust. Mix together the condensed milk, lemon juice, egg, and all the lemon zest, then pour over the blueberries. Bake for 18-20 minutes and you’re done! This saves you about 25 minutes of prep and baking time.

Serving Ideas

These bars are perfect on their own as a complete dessert! Serve them with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. They’re also wonderful alongside a cup of hot coffee or iced tea. For special occasions, dust them with a little powdered sugar for an elegant touch.

Storage

Store your bars covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They actually taste even better after a day or two! You can also freeze them for up to 3 months – just wrap individual squares in plastic wrap. Let frozen bars thaw in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

Substitutions

No fresh blueberries? Frozen ones work great – just don’t thaw them first! You can swap the graham crackers for vanilla wafers or even crushed cookies. If you don’t have fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice works fine, though fresh gives better flavor. You can also try lime instead of lemon for a fun twist!

Pro Tips

• Perfect crust: Press the crust mixture down with the bottom of a measuring cup for even coverage.
• Zest first: Always zest your lemon before juicing it – it’s much easier!
• Clean cuts: Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for neat squares.
• Don’t overbake: The filling should be just set – it will firm up more as it cools.

FAQs

Can I use frozen blueberries?

You bet! Just don’t thaw them first – toss them in frozen. They might make the bars a little more purple, but they’ll taste just as amazing.

How do I know when they’re done baking?

The filling should be set and not jiggly when you gently shake the pan. It might still look slightly wet on top, but that’s perfectly fine!

Can I make these ahead of time?

Sure! These are actually better when made a day ahead. The flavors have time to blend together beautifully. Just keep them covered in the fridge.

Why do I need to chill them so long?

The chilling time helps the filling set completely so you can cut clean squares. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!

I hope you love these lemon-blueberry bars as much as my family does! Let me know how yours turn out – I always love hearing about your baking adventures. Happy baking, friend!