How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Bars - A Step-by-Step Guide

When life gives you lemons, make lemon cream cheese bars! This indulgent dessert is the perfect combination of tangy and sweet, with a buttery crust and a creamy, luscious filling. Whether you want to impress your friends at a brunch or indulge in a sweet treat for yourself, these lemon cream cheese bars are sure to hit the spot. The best part? They're incredibly easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients.

The star of this recipe is undoubtedly the creamy and zesty filling...

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Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough (such as Pillsbury® Recipe Creations®), divided
  • 2 lemons, zested and juiced, divided
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 hr 20 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
  • Servings: 24
  • Yield: 1 9x13-inch baking dish

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
  • Unroll 1 crescent roll dough; press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, stretching to the edges.
  • Mix together lemon juice and 3/4 of the lemon zest in a large bowl. Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar into juice-zest mixture with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; spread over crescent roll dough in the baking dish.
  • Unroll remaining crescent roll dough and place over cream cheese mixture, stretching to the edges. Brush melted butter on top. Mix together 3 tablespoons sugar and remaining lemon zest in a small bowl; sprinkle over melted butter.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes.
  • Lift dessert from the baking dish using foil; transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares, leaving on foil. Return dessert to the baking dish and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
  • Nutrition

    171 cal.

    • Total Fat: 12g
    • Saturated Fat: 6g
    • Cholesterol: 23mg
    • Sodium: 209mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 15g
    • Dietary Fiber: 0g
    • Total Sugars: 7g
    • Protein: 3g
    • Vitamin C: 7mg
    • Calcium: 21mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 36mg