The Originators of Quick & Easy Cooking!
Cookie Jar Favorites
Bonus: Get our newsletter & special offers for free. We will not share or sell your email address. View our Privacy Policy
Lemon Cheese Bars
(26 Votes)
Share This Recipe
- SERVES
- 24
- COOK TIME
- 30 Min
Do you know what sunshine tastes like? Take a bite out of one of these Lemon Cheese Bars and you'll see what we're talking about. These creamy lemon bars have all the lemony flavor you need!
What You'll Need
- 1 (15.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
What to Do
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, 1 egg, and the oil; mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup mixture.
- Lightly pat remaining mixture into an ungreased 9- x 13-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes; cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, beat together the remaining egg, the cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice until light and smooth. Spread over cooled baked layer.
- Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and bake 15 more minutes, or until light golden. Cool then cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
Share This Recipe
Nutritional InformationShow More
Servings Per Recipe: 24
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Calories 153
- Calories from Fat 79
- Total Fat 8.7g 13 %
- Saturated Fat 2.7g 13 %
- Trans Fat 0.0g 0 %
- Protein 1.9g 4 %
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Cholesterol 26mg 9 %
- Sodium 154mg 6 %
- Total Carbohydrates 17g 6 %
- Dietary Fiber 0.2g 1 %
- Sugars 11g 0 %
Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!
scotchlassie 0728879
Dec 01, 2016
what if you cant get cake mix with the pudding
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Test Kitchen Team
Dec 02, 2016
Hi there! We've corrected this recipe to reflect that you do not need to use a cake mix with pudding. Enjoy!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
brnwig 2018749
Jun 04, 2016
I have been making these for years. Have also tried other flavors of cake mix like strawberry. Yummy! Always a hit at church.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
yangel74 7445297
Feb 24, 2016
Does the one cup of mixture goes to the bottom of the pan to bake for 15 minutes?
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Test Kitchen Team
Feb 25, 2016
Hi there! No, you'll reserve the 1 cup of mixture for the topping (step 5). Enjoy!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Goodcookie
Mar 20, 2015
This sound delicious and scrumptious 3 Cant wait to make these this week ahead Thanks For Sharing This Recipe !!!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
burdstreet
Jan 03, 2015
Just a little hint for bar cookies. I use a pizza cutter and get a much cleaner cut than using a knife.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
nanaerm
Dec 04, 2014
For a more "lemony" flavor, try using a lemon cake mix instead of yellow.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
squimbo
Nov 17, 2014
do these need to stay refrigerated? Can they be frozen until needed?
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Test Kitchen Team
Nov 18, 2014
Yes, they do need to stay refrigerated (we've added it to the recipe!). You can freeze them until you're ready to eat them. :) Enjoy!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Peacherino
Apr 05, 2014
This recipe is awesome! I have made it for Church Potluck, and it gets devoured right away! lol Just don't cook the first layer for more than 15 minutes---and don't "overdo" it on the amount of oil you use, or it won't be "crumbly". I find it easiest to cut into bars when it's been in Fridge for awhile---also it tastes best when it's served a bit cold. I love it---I'm making it again tonite for Church Potluck tomorrow---Try it. It's easy to make and delicious!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
alexandraflight 7844112
Mar 29, 2014
Sorry, dont quite get what yellow cake mix with pudding means. Please help.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Purrbaby
Mar 31, 2014
On the box of cake mix it will say contains pudding. Pillsbury and Betty Crocker do.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
keysnhooves 9921962
Mar 29, 2014
I thought they needed more lemon, but everyone else liked them the way they were. They taste better after they have cooled.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Peacherino
Apr 05, 2014
They aren't really "lemony"-tasting, but that's fine with me...and everyone else liked it, when I made it too! I totally agree that it tastes best when it's a little cold---and much easier to cut into bars when cold from Fridge.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
sandrad47 3061682
Mar 14, 2014
going to try this, sounds really good
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
nanaerm
Mar 14, 2014
The crust will have a better flavor if you use the same amount of melted butter in place of the vegetable oil.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
jnharsanyi
Jul 20, 2013
Couldn't eat them. 30 minutes total cooking time on the bottom crust overcooked it.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Peacherino
Apr 05, 2014
Maybe your oven is too hot (temp setting is off?? If you cook it exactly 15 minutes---no more---and then make sure it's COMPLETELY cooled before putting it back in oven for last 15 minutes, you shouldn't have a problem. :)
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
cdwbellfounte
Apr 14, 2012
Very Easy to Make. Does need more lemon juice. Family like it.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
maryannb4u 7130829
Apr 14, 2012
love lemon and all your recipes
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
clayimages 1231770
Apr 07, 2012
I used the juice of 2 lemons and 2 tsp. lemon zest to make them tangier. My whole family approved!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
nrizzo 1109316
Mar 22, 2012
If the filling is too thick, add a few drops of water to thin out...also I added the a little zest from the lemon before juicing it...made the flavor much more exciting and tangy!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
jaynejay 3720568
Nov 07, 2011
To: Mary Paris 8137582; "Betty Crocker" SUPER MOIST has pudding in the mix. In fact, ALL "Betty Crocker" mixes have pudding! **************************************************************************************************************** I'm writing concerning the "Lemon Cheese Bars". What do I add to the lemon juice mixture, if it's too thick to spread on the cooled baked layer? Maybe another drop of lemon juice?
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
madoline 1753067
Apr 11, 2012
Mine was really thick, too. I just clumped it on top, spread it around as best I could with my fingers and it worked out beautifully.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
cdwbellfounte
Apr 14, 2012
I made sure that the cream cheese had set out and was really soft. Didn't have any trouble spreading it. I only used 2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Next time will use a little more.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Peacherino
Apr 05, 2014
My cream cheese layer was perfect---not too thick at all. ?? Very thin, actually, and I used only the one tsp. of lemon juice. Was your cream cheeses soft enough before beating?? Be sure it's REALLY soft before you beat it..... Maybe you didn't beat it long enough?? (You DID use an electric mixer, right??)
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
maryparis 8137582
Oct 31, 2011
Is there such a thing aqs yellow cake mix with pudding? thank you. mp.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
madoline 1753067
Apr 11, 2012
I think all cake mixes today have pudding. If not, just dump a box in with the other ingredients ( I would use lemon if I had it). It is really hard to mess up a cake mix-take it from me-I'm old!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
madoline 1753067
Apr 11, 2012
I think all cake mixes today have pudding. If not, just dump a box in with the other ingredients ( I would use lemon if I had it). It is really hard to mess up a cake mix-take it from me-I'm old!
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
cdwbellfounte
Apr 14, 2012
Pillsbury Moist Supreme. The writing is so small on the top front can't hardly see it, but it does say 1 cup of pudding in the mix.
- REPLY
- WAS THIS HELPFUL? YesNo
- REPORT ABUSE
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.
