These Lemon Bars with a Crust are the perfect balance of tart and sweet with a buttery, crumbly base. They’re lightened up to keep your points in check while still giving you that bright lemon flavor you love. A great treat for a special occasion or when you’re looking to indulge without overdoing it!

Ingredients:

For the crust:

  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (or WW-friendly sweetener)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (for a lower-calorie option, you can also use light butter or margarine)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the lemon filling:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sweetener of choice (such as Stevia or Monk Fruit)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp lemon zest (optional for extra flavor)
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional, for finishing)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  2. Make the crust:
    • In a medium bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
    • Stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract until the mixture forms a dough.
    • Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, forming an even layer.
    • Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden. Set aside to cool.
  3. Make the lemon filling:
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon juice, granulated sweetener, flour, lemon zest (if using), and baking powder until smooth.
    • Pour the lemon filling over the cooled crust in the baking pan.
  4. Bake the bars:
    • Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and lightly golden on top. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
  5. Cool and serve:
    • Let the lemon bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
    • If desired, dust the top with powdered sugar for a classic finish (this will add a small number of points).

Nutrition Information (per serving, based on 9 servings):

  • Calories: ~90
  • Fat: 2g
  • Carbohydrates: 16g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugars: 8g
  • Protein: 2g

WW Points (per serving): 2-3 Points (depending on sweetener used)

Tips & Variations:

  • If you want to keep the points even lower, you can swap the powdered sugar for a low-calorie sweetener like powdered Stevia or Monk Fruit.
  • For a more decadent version, you could use a small amount of light butter or margarine in place of applesauce for the crust, but this will add a few extra points.
  • To make these bars more vibrant, add more lemon zest or even a splash of lemon extract to the filling.

These Lemon Bars with a Crust are tangy, sweet, and just the right amount of indulgent while keeping the points low.