🍋 Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Sunshine in every bite! These dreamy bars combine buttery shortbread, tangy lemon cream cheese filling, and a dusting of powdered sugar for the perfect sweet-tart treat.
🧾 Ingredients:
For the Crust:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Filling:
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
Zest and juice of 1 large lemon (about 2 tbsp juice)
For Topping:
Powdered sugar, for dusting
👩🍳 Directions:
1. Preheat & Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
2. Make the Crust
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
Gradually mix in flour until crumbly (mixture will be dry).
Press ⅔ of the dough into the pan to form the crust. Bake for 15 mins until lightly golden.
3. Prepare the Filling
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until creamy.
Pour over the warm crust.
4. Add the Topping
Crumble the remaining ⅓ dough over the filling (it’ll bake into a streusel-like layer).
5. Bake & Chill
Bake 25–30 mins until edges are golden and filling is set.
Cool completely, then refrigerate 1 hour to firm up.
6. Serve
Dust with powdered sugar, slice, and enjoy!
💡 Pro Tips:
Extra zing? Add ½ tsp lemon extract to the filling.
Shortcut: Use a store-bought lemon curd swirl in the filling!
Storage: Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
📌 #LemonBars #CreamCheeseDessert #EasyBaking #SpringTreats #CitrusLovers