Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

If you love bright lemon flavor and creamy desserts, these Lemon Cream Cheese Bars are an easy treat to add to your recipe collection. They have a soft, buttery lemon cake crust topped with a sweet cream cheese layer—and you only need a handful of ingredients to make them.

With just 10 minutes of prep, this is a great recipe for family gatherings, potlucks, summer get-togethers, or simply when you’re craving something sweet and lemony.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
Serves: 12

Ingredients

1 box lemon cake mix
½ cup butter, melted
1 egg
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, combine the lemon cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg. Mix until a thick dough forms.
Press the lemon mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create the crust.
In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, remaining egg, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the lemon crust.
Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, or until the cream cheese layer is set and the edges are lightly golden.
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. This helps the layers set and makes them much easier to slice.

Make Them Extra Pretty

Once the bars have completely cooled, add a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving. A few fresh lemon slices or a little lemon zest make a beautiful finishing touch, especially if you’re serving them for a shower, brunch, party, or summer gathering.

An Easy Dessert for Sharing

These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars are one of those recipes that look like you spent much more time in the kitchen than you actually did. Starting with a boxed lemon cake mix keeps the prep incredibly simple, while the homemade cream cheese layer makes them feel a little more special.

They’re also easy to cut into smaller squares when you’re feeding a crowd. Serve them chilled or at room temperature for a bright, creamy dessert that’s perfect any time of year.

Quick Tip: For the cleanest slices, let the bars cool completely and refrigerate them before cutting. Wipe your knife clean between cuts.