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Extra springy, extra creamy lemon bars with browned butter raspberries. Hands down one of my favorite sweet bars for spring. These bars are buttery, silky smooth, hinted with vanilla, perfectly lemony, and just sweet enough. This combination makes for a truly simple but delicious creamy, sweet, and tangy filling. Made with a buttery Ritz cracker crust, each bar is then finished off with fresh raspberries tossed in browned butter. A truly decadent spring (or summer) dessert!
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Well would you look at that? I finally made a lemon bar.
I’m not sure if this is expected of me or not, but when I decided to make these, I was shocked that I was actually going to do it. For the longest time I just never understood why someone would want to eat a dessert like a lemon bar or a key lime pie. I mean, where is the chocolate? Or at least the sweet fruit filling?
I used to only believe in chocolate desserts. No vanilla, no fruit, just chocolate. To this day, chocolate is still very high on my list, it probably always will be. But as I’ve learned to experiment with new flavors, I’ve really grown to love fruit based sweets. And now tangy citrus sweets too!
This is something I never thought would happen, but here we are! So, today I have some of the best lemon bars to share with you all, and I am so excited.
These bars really are something special, and very different…at least for me.
To be upfront, my original intent was to make a key lime pie. My (soon to be) sister-in-law has been telling me that key lime pie is her favorite dessert. What a coincidence, it’s my brother Brendan’s favorite too. These two must really be meant for each other (it’s my grandpa’s favorite too!). Lyn’s has said that the fact that I do not have a key lime pie recipe here on HBH is truly upsetting.
Clearly I need to make this key lime pie happen, and I was finally going to do it too. But then…I did what I always do, I over-think, and in the end these lemon bars excited me more.
Sorry, I love lemon in my fruity desserts, so the sound of a lemon bar just sounded too good.
The sound of key lime pie? Well, let’s just say it still needs to grow on me. But mark my words, I will get to making a key lime pie. Someday.
Anyway, instead I made these creamy lemon bars. And I topped them with browned butter raspberries. Every bite you’ll take is SO GOOD.
Filled with toasted, buttery Ritz crackers, creamy, sweet lemon, and juicy, buttery raspberries. Mouth watering.
Shockingly, these bars are super simple and very easy. I always thought something like a “fancy” lemon bar would be more involved, but in reality it’s the complete opposite.
To start, make the crust. Traditionally a shortbread or saltine cracker crust is used for a lemon bar/tart, but I love using buttery, salty Ritz crackers. They take things to a better level, and while they’re not fancy, they are so very good. Better than shortbread. Better than saltiness.
While the crust bakes, make the filling. Eggs, sweetened condensed milk, lots of lemon, and a splash of vanilla…seriously so simple.
Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 15 minutes. Yes, just 15 minutes. Again, easy and simple. When the bars come out of the oven you’ll have a lemon bar that’s bright yellow and so pretty.
The trickiest step comes next…chill time. These bars need at least an hour or two in the fridge before they’re ready to be cut. Honestly, the waiting time is hard, but so worth it. Once the bars are cut, you’ll expose the silky, smooth, and very creamy, delicious lemon filling.
Now, the raspberries. You might not think the raspberries are not needed, but please do trust me when I say this, your lemon bars need these browned butter raspberries. It’s the layer of flavor that puts these bars over the top and makes them truly burst with flavor, both light and indulgent.
And let’s be real, browned butter is always the right move. Always.
So with that, I think our week could really use a bright lemon bar, don’t you? If not this week, then at least for your Easter celebrations. Fingers crossed you will all love these just as much as I do!
If you make these creamy lemon bars, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Creamy Lemon Bars with Browned Butter Raspberries.
Ingredients
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, finely crushed into crumbs, (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups crushed crackers)
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 large egg + 2 large egg yolks
- 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 cup freshly squeeze lemon juice, preferably from Meyer lemons
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Browned Butter Raspberries
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper.2. In a small bowl, mix together the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Transfer to the oven and bake 15 minutes, until light golden on top. 3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolks. Add the sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt until combined. Pour the mix over the cracker crust. Return to the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes, until just set. Allow the bars to cool in the pan, then place in the fridge to cool completely, at least 2 hours or overnight. 4. Cut into bars. Just before serving, spoon over the browned butter raspberries. The bars can be kept chilled in the fridge for up to 4 days. 5. To make the raspberries, add the butter to a skillet set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir often. Remove from the heat and add the lemon zest. Gently toss the berries with the butter and spoon overtop the bars.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Hi, how can i sibstitute condensed milk?
Hi Nina! Unfortunately, I don’t recommend replacing the condensed milk as it both sweetness and adds moisture to the bars. You’d have to make a lot of adjustments to replace the condensed milk. That said, You could try 1 1/4 cups whole milk and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, BUT I do not know what the outcome will be if you try this. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
These look divine! Have never made a crust with Ritz, so super interest to try that out. Can’t wait, pinned!
Thank you Jess! xTieghan
Thank you very much for this recipe! This sounds great! I am a bit struggling with the ammount of crackers. We do have Thema in Germany, but packed differently. Maybe you can tell me the weight of one sleeve? Thank you very much! Greetings from Germany!
Hi! I don’t know the weight of the crackers, but you need about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of crushed Ritz crackers. I really hope this helps you! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
These look incredible! Can’t wait to try them! Approximately how many lemons did it take you to get a cup of juice?
HI! It will depend on the size of your lemons but between 4-6 lemons. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi there, what a wonderful post. Just curious if this is possible; can you substitute 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk with anything else?
Thanks for your reply in advance-
Jenna
Hey Jenna! Unfortunately, I don’t recommend replace the condensed milk as it both sweetness and add moisture to the bars. You’d have to make a lot of adjust to replace the condensed milk. That said, You could try 1 1/4 cups whole milk and 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, BUT I do not know what the outcome will be if you try this. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I need to make this asap. Can I confirm by Ritz crackers you mean the savoury crackers? Yellow packet. I live in Singapore, might be sold differently here so just checking. I would normally use digestives for a biscuit base.
Hi Catherine! Yes, they’re savory and sort of have a buttery flavor! I hope you love this! xTieghan
I’m so making these tonight for our wine night with my girlfriends… I love making desserts that look impressive but are easy to make.
Thank you so much Becca! xTieghan
Your “soon to be sister in law”, is my niece and she is right about Key Lime pie, but THESE lemon bars with the Ritz cracker crust? WOW! Who knew? Browned butter is a whole different flavor! So good!
So creamy and tart! I’ve been making lemon bars for years, but these?…amazing!
Hi Jacque!! Ah that is so amazing Lyndsie is your niece! Also, so glad you are loving these bars and I hope you try them! xTieghan
Awwww! Just in time for Spring and warm weather! And wow, just wow! I begin craving fruity desserts about this time of year. And this recipe here looks like it will most definitely satisfy those cravings. I’m so intrigued by the browned butter raspberries. What an added treat for these bars. As always, thanks for sharing.
So perfect for Spring right?! I hope you try these, Linger! Thank you! xTieghan
These images made me so happy! What gorgeous lemon bars. I don’t know how it’s even possible but your photography just keeps getting better and better, Tieghan. Well done you!
Thank you Julia! xTieghan
YES! These look incredible. I think I’ll add it to the list of weekend cooking.
For the key lime pie…I used your graham cracker + coconut flake crust from your banana cream pie in the HBH cookbook when I was coming up with a recipe for lime pie. Highly recommend incorporating that bad boy whenever you go to develop that recipe! 😉
Ooo yes!! Thank you for this Sydney! I hope you love this recipe as well! xTieghan
I’m not huge on fruity desserts, but lemon is where I make an exception! These bars look absolutely incredible, especially with those raspberries on top!!
Thank you Sarah!! I am so glad you like these and I hope you try them! xTieghan
Fruit Rules! Had a lime tart with Kaffir lime a couple of weeks ago…life changing.
Lemon bars have always been a favorite. Never met a citrus I haven’t loved. Not sure on the Ritz Crackers though.
I hope you try these Joyce.. I think you will like them! xTieghan
Hi!
What is a sleeve as a measure for crackers?
Cheers,
Hi Anna! A sleeve is one entire roll inside a Ritz cracker box.. there are usually four sleeves in one box! Let me know if you have any more questions! xTieghan
Hi!
This recipe looks incredible, can’t wait to try it! Probably will make this for Easter for my mom-in-law.
The calories that is written down is for 8 or 16 bars?
Thank you
Hi Samantha! The calories are for just one bar! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan