Lemon Creme Crumb Bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp + 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 tsp lemon extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the rolled oats into the flour with the salt and baking soda. Add both sugars, then stir until the mixture is free of sugar lumps.
2. Mix the vanilla into the melted butter, then pour it over the dry mixture. Stir with a spoon until the crumbs are evenly dampened.
3. Scatter half of the crumb mixture across the bottom of a greased 8 by 8-inch baking dish, then press it lightly into a level layer. Bake for 15 minutes. Take the dish out of the oven and set it aside, leaving the oven at 350 degrees.
4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg yolks and lemon extract until fully combined. Pour the lemon mixture over the baked crumb base and smooth it into an even layer.
5. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the top. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 23 – 26 minutes, until the top is lightly golden.
6. Remove the dish from the oven and let the bars cool at room temperature. Once cool, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes – 1 hour, then remove and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.