🍋 Lemon Cream Cheese Bars 🧈✨
Bright, tangy lemon cream cheese filling layered over a buttery crumble crust—refreshing and irresistible!
Ingredients
For the Crust & Crumble
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
For the Lemon Cream Cheese Filling
- 12 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Zest of 2 medium lemons
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
Instructions
- Prepare Oven & Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment, leaving overhang.
- Make Crust: Whisk flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 heaping cup for topping. Press remaining crumbs into pan. Bake 18–20 min until lightly golden. Cool slightly. Reduce oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Make Filling: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth (2 min). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Beat in vanilla, lemon zest, and juice until uniform.
- Assemble: Spread filling over warm crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Bake 35–40 min until set (center should jiggle slightly).
- Cool & Chill: Cool 1 hr at room temp. Refrigerate 4 hrs or overnight until firm.
- Serve: Lift slab using parchment. Slice into 16 squares with a clean, sharp knife.
Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Bake Time: 55–60 minutes (including crust + filling)
- Total Time: ~6 hours (with chilling)
- Yield: 16 bars
- Kcal: ~220 per bar
✨ A zesty twist on cheesecake bars—perfect for spring gatherings, holiday trays, or a refreshing treat!