Strawberry Lemon Bars — 🍓🍋🎉 Imagine crossing lemon bars with a strawberry pie. These easy bars taste like strawberry lemonade! A firm crust with a soft and juicy strawberry and lemon filling, and topped with buttery crumbles, these EASY layered bars are perfect for casual summer entertaining, BBQs, picnics, potlucks, summer holidays, and more!
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Strawberry lemonade is such a quintessential summer drink. Bars that taste like strawberry lemonade are even better than drinking it!
These strawberry lemonade bars are what you’d get if you crossed a crumble-topped strawberry pie with a lemon bar.
They’re sweet from the strawberries with some tart lemon flavor that peeks through. They’re soft, juicy, satisfying, and I love crumble-topped anything.
Between the firm crust, soft filling, juicy strawberries, fragrant lemon zest, and sandy crumbles, there are so many wonderful textures and flavors in every thick bite.
They taste fancy enough to serve at a special event, luncheon, or brunch, yet are homey and comforting. A perfect summertime treat!
This is easily my favourite recipe on your page. I have made it at least once a month since finding it last summer, and it’s a solid 10/10. I’ve made it with both strawberries and blueberries, and it is always incredible. Thank you for creating this delicious bar, I am going to go make more of them now :)
Shannon
Ingredients for Strawberry Lemon Bars
To make these strawberry lemon blondies, you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Egg
- Greek yogurt
- Lemon juice and zest
- Vanilla extract
- Strawberries
- Cornstarch
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Strawberry Lemon Bars
If you’re craving a strawberry lemon dessert, you’re going to adore these bars! Here’s an overview of how the recipe comes together:
- Mix together the crust mixture, which also doubles as the crumble topping.
- Set aside 3/4 cup of the mixture. Press the rest into the bottom of an 8-inch square pan.
- Next, whisk together the lemon filling. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
- Mix together the strawberry layer and spread evenly over the lemon filling.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping over the strawberry layer, then bake the strawberry lemon bars for about an hour.
- Let cool for at least 2 hours before cutting into them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use either in these strawberry lemon bars! I used a mixture of fresh and frozen berries, and you’re welcome to do the same. If using fresh berries, you may not need to add any flour to the strawberry layer. If using frozen berries, you likely will need 2 tablespoons. Just use your best judgement and add some flour if the mixture looks at all watery.
You should be able to use any berry you’d like in these bars without issue. Just note that some berries are sweeter than others, which will affect the flavor of the baked bars.
You should be fine to use a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute, but I wouldn’t recommend using a nut flour.
Yes, double all the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. The baking time may increase by a few minutes at most, but that certainly will not double.
Absolutely! You can cut into these strawberry bars after they’ve rested for 2 hours, but they’re best when they’ve been left overnight.
Storage Instructions
Room temp: These bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Fridge: Store airtight for up to 10 days (they’re good slightly chilled if you like chilled pie and I store them in the fridge).
Freezer: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, seal in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge.
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Strawberry Lemonade Bars
Ingredients
Crust and Crumble Topping
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Filling
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, lite is okay (or use sour cream)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
Strawberry Layer
- 2 heaping cups diced strawberries, (fresh or frozen; I used a combo)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar, or 1/2 cup if berries are sour
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, * (see notes)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray; set aside. Lining the pan will really help with cleanup and is recommended.
- Crust and Crumble Topping – In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
- Add the sugars and whisk to combine.
- And the flour, optional salt, and stir to combine. Mixture will be very dry and sandy with some larger, well-formed crumble pieces.
- Set a heaping 3/4 cup crumble mixture aside.
- Transfer remaining mixture to prepared pan, and using a spatula or your fingers, hard-pack the mixture to create an even, smooth, flat crust; set aside.
- Filling – In a medium bowl, add the egg, Greek yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and whisk to combine or beat with a handheld electric mixer until smooth.
- Add the flour and whisk to combine or beat with a handheld electric mixer until smooth.
- Evenly pour filling over the crust and jiggle pan to help distribute it or smooth it with a spatula; set aside.
- Strawberry Layer – In a separate medium bowl, add all filling ingredients except flour and toss to combine.
- Evaluate mixture and if it’s very thin, runny, soupy, or liquidy, add up to 2 tablespoons flour to help thicken it. If using fresh berries, you may not need any flour. Because I used half fresh and half frozen berries, I needed 2 tablespoons flour because my mixture was thin and soupy.
- Evenly distribute strawberry mixture over the filling, smoothing it lightly with a spatula.
- Evenly sprinkle with the reserved heaping 3/4 cup crust mixture. Before sprinkling, I squeeze the mixture in my palm to encourage bigger crumble pieces to form.
- Baking – Bake for about 60 to 75 minutes (place pan on a cookie sheet for insurance against overflow if your pan is quite full), or until edges are bubbling quite vigorously and there’s some bubbling in the center. Crumble topping should appear set and very pale golden.*
- Cooling – Place pan on a wire rack and allow bars to cool for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better) before slicing and serving. After cooling overnight, I placed pan in the fridge 2 hours before slicing to ensure clean, neat cuts. If you try to slice bars before they’ve cooled completely, they’ll be extremely messy and could fall apart.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Strawberry Desserts:
Quick and Easy Strawberry Cobbler — 🍓🙌🏻🍓 The EASIEST strawberry cobbler ever with this no-mixer quickie dessert recipe that takes advantage of fresh strawberries! No eggs and just 7 basic ingredients to make this soft and tender cobbler that’s ready in 1 hour.
Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake — This Strawberry Poke Cake uses just four ingredients and is a hit at parties and potlucks! It’s a moist, refreshing dessert you’ll definitely want seconds of!
Crustless Fresh Strawberry Pie — FAST, super EASY, no-mixer dessert that’s perfect for summer entertaining, picnics, or potlucks!! Somewhere in between pie, cake, and blondies is what you get with this FABULOUS recipe!
The Best Strawberry Banana Bread — This strawberry bread is packed with fresh, juicy strawberries in every bite! This is an easy, no-mixer quick bread recipe you’re going to love!
Strawberry Layer Cake with Strawberry Frosting — Soft, tender cake loaded with FRESH strawberries and a sweet strawberry frosting!! An EASY strawberry layer cake that’s perfect for parties! Strawberry fans will LOVE IT!!
Strawberry Custard Bars — These easy, one bowl, no mixer custard bars are perfect for your fresh strawberries. There’s a shortbread crust, topped with diced strawberries, before a custard filling is poured over the the top.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars — 🍓😋These buttery bars are bursting with fresh strawberries! Just 10 minutes of prep, so EASY because the crust and crumble are one and the same, and a crowd FAVORITE every time!
This post is brought to you by Sunkist. Recipe, photography, and opinions expressed are my own.
Originally published July 15, 2014 and republished May 29, 2020 and July 12, 2024 with updated text.
I should wait to leave a review until After I have tasted this delicious looking desert but I’ve just taken it out of the oven and without putting any emphasis on what I did differently I must say, baking this was an absolute blast and I couldn’t wait to leave a review. fantastic creation you have made here. Thank you. It made me smile and I needed it very very much
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad you had a blast making it and thanks for sharing your photo!
Are we supposed to cook down the strawberry mixture?
It is not necessary and should be just fine using the directions I provided in the recipe card. This is a 10+ year old recipe and I’ve never had anyone indicate their filling was runny or too soft so just stick with the recipe as written is my advice.
Thank you! Thank you! I made these yesterday and they are out of this world delicious. If I wanted to make a bigger batch, say in a 9 ×13 dish, do I double the recipe?
Thank you! Thank you! I made these yesterday and they are out of this world delicious. If I wanted to make a bigger batch, say in a 9 ×13 dish, do I double the recipe?
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad they are out of this world delish for you!
Yes, double all ingredients and bake in a 9×13 pan. Baking time may increase by a few minutes at most, but that certainly will not double.
great
It is always a nice time reading your blog post. I like the way it is full of insights and very easy to understand the message you are passing out. Nice work.
This is easily my favourite recipe on your page. I have made it at least once a month since finding it last summer, and it’s a solid 10/10. I’ve made it with both strawberries and blueberries, and it is always incredible. Thank you for creating this delicious bar, I am going to go make more of them now :)
This is easily my favourite recipe on your page. I have made it at least once a month since finding it last summer, and it’s a solid 10/10. I’ve made it with both strawberries and blueberries, and it is always incredible. Thank you for creating this delicious bar, I am going to go make more of them now :)
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this is your fave recipe of mine! Also interesting that you are making these in the fall/winter when others are making pumpkin and turkeys and peppermint cookies, I actually love that you’re making these now. Just shows how much you really enjoy these!
I was wondering if these could be shipped from Canada to the US? My sister just brought my nephew home from the NICU and I wanted to give her something nice
I think it’s a lovely thought but you’d need to check with international customs about sending food. I know most times one is not allowed to cross the border with food in your suitcase unless it’s something like chips that are sealed in a bag, peanuts sealed in a bag, etc but homemade food items, no. However maybe sending them via parcel service is permitted. Not sure.