Lemon Bars with Cake Mix

These Lemon Bars with Cake Mix are so addicting with tangy lemon flavor. They're an easy, foolproof recipe that's great for beginner bakers. With just __ ingredients, you can have dessert ready in under an hour.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cake mix, lemon, lemon bars

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Servings

Calories 112kcal

Author Jesseca

Ingredients

Crust and Crumble

1 (15.25 oz) lemon cake mix
1 (3.4oz) instant lemon pudding
1 large egg
1/2 cup oil

Cream Cheese Filling

2 (8oz) cream cheese
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon cake mix, dry lemon pudding mix, one egg, and the oil. Mix until the ingredients form a crumbly texture with some small lumps. Reserve 1 cup of this crumb mixture for later use.
Evenly press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan, pressing firmly to create a solid crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to set the base layer.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Once the base is baked, remove it from the oven. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the hot crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the cream cheese layer.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the filling is set and the top is lightly browned.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares to ensure the filling sets properly.

Notes

Even Layering: Press the crumbly mixture evenly and firmly into the pan to create a uniform crust. This ensures an even base for the cream cheese layer.

Cool Completely: Allow the lemon bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting. This helps the filling to set properly and makes for cleaner cuts.

Clean Cuts: For neat squares, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts. This prevents the creamy filling from sticking to the knife and making a mess.

Nutrition