Cream Cheese Lemon Bars Recipe

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Cream Cheese Lemon Bars are a delectably tart delicacy that mixes the richness of cream cheese with the bright, zesty flavor of lemon. Here’s a tasty recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

For the Cream Cheese Layer:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Lemon Layer:

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

Instructions:

  1. Turn on the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). An 8×8-inch baking pan should be greased or lined, leaving some overhang on the sides for simple removal.
  2. Prepare the Crust: In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter, powdered sugar, and all-purpose flour until well combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
  3. Bake the Crust: Place the crust in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until it turns a light golden color. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  4. Prepare the Cream Cheese Layer: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Spread this mixture evenly over the baked crust.
  5. Prepare the Lemon Layer: In another bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the eggs, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice, and whisk until everything is well combined.
  6. Add the Lemon Layer: Pour the lemon mixture over the cream cheese layer in the baking pan, spreading it out to cover the cream cheese.
  7. Bake the Lemon Bars: Return the baking pan to the oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until the lemon layer is set and the edges are lightly golden.
  8. Cool and Chill: Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to allow the bars to firm up.
  9. Serve: When the bars are cold, use the parchment paper overhang to pull them from the pan. Serve after cutting into squares. If desired, you can sprinkle powdered sugar or whipped cream on top of the bars to give even more sweetness.

These Cream Cheese Lemon Bars are a delicious and refreshing dessert to serve after a meal or as a sweet treat any time of day!