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Lemon Bars with Cake Mix take a classic and make it even simpler!! It’s still a little tart and a little sweet, and perfectly delish.
These easy Lemon Bars with Cake Mix take a twist on a classic Lemon Bar. Try Lemon Cream Cheese Bars for another favorite, bright dessert!
Lemon bars with a shortcut
Lemon Bars are one of my most favorite dessert recipes! I’m generally a chocolate girl, but there is just something about these slightly tart treats that really gets me.
While Lemon Bars themselves aren’t terribly difficult, they do take a bit of time. I made these sweet squares even more simple by adding a twist – cake mix!
Lemon Bars with Cake Mix are still delicious, but just a bit easier to whip up making them a perfect go-to sweet for sharing!
ingredients tips
- Use room temperature ingredients, specifically the cream cheese and eggs. They will incorporate much easier and more smoothly when they are not cold.
- Don’t forget to beat the eggs before you add them to the mixing bowl. Add 2 eggs to a separate medium bowl. Beat vigorously until the eggs are light and frothy. This can take a few minutes.
- How to zest a lemon: You will only need 1 lemon to get 1 teaspoon of zest. The zest is simply grated lemon peel. They are quite flavorful and harmless to ingest. You can use a citrus zester, the small side on a cheese grater or a paring knife to shred the peel into small pieces. For more of the lemon flavor, increase the amount of zest you add.
- Baking Dish: I used a 9×13 glass dish to bake these lemon bars. If you use a metal pan you may need to shorten the bake time and be sure to line the metal pan with parchment paper. Due to the citrus, the lemon bars can sometimes take on a metallic taste.
Whether you use glass or metal, be sure that it is a 9×13 inch pan. Any larger and the bars will over bake. A smaller pan will yield under baked in the middle and a crispy crust. - Cake Mix-A standard box of lemon cake mix is 15.25 oz. Duncan Hines, Pillsbury and Betty Crocker are all readily available in my grocery store and each works for this recipe. Other similar cake mixes should work as well.
- Note that you are ONLY using the dry cake mix. Do not make a batter.
- You can use a yellow cake mix, but you will need to add lemon extract
- When you press the cake mixture in the bottom of the dish, it should not be crumbly. Mix in a bit more melted butter if needed.
how to make them
PREP. Grease a 9×13 pan and turn oven to 350.
CAKE MIX. Blend cake mix, 1 egg and butter until smooth. Press into your greased 9×13 pan.
CREAM CHEESE. Blend cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla powdered sugar and lemon zest until creamy and smooth. Spread over your the first mixture in your pan.
BAKE + SERVE. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown (middle may sink in a bit). Top with powdered sugar and ENJOY!
garnishes and variations
For me, a classic lemon bar is topped with powdered sugar, but as always it’s fun to change things up from time to time. A few tasty ideas include:
- use a lemon glaze
- sprinkle lemon zest on top
- add toasted coconut flakes
- use a cream cheese frosting
- add fresh fruit such as blueberries, raspberries or strawberries
storage tips
Make ahead of time: Lemon bars can easily be made ahead of time. In fact, they need an hour or so to cool and set before serving so be sure that you make them at least a couple hours before you want to serve them.
STORE: They can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days, in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 1-2 months.
FREEZE: If you want to freeze them, wrap the entire block, or each piece with plastic wrap. A large block can be wrapped again with foil. Smaller pieces can be stored together in a freezer Ziploc. Thaw before serving.
For more easy cake mix desserts, try:
Lemon Bars with Cake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- powdered sugar to sprinkle
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 pan and turn oven to 350.
- Blend cake mix, 1 egg and butter until smooth. Press into your greased 9×13 pan.
- Blend cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla powdered sugar and lemon zest until creamy and smooth. Spread over your the first mixture in your pan.
- Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown (middle may sink in a bit).
- Top with powdered sugar and ENJOY!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you think it’s possible to add raspberry preserves?
Lemons and raspberries are a delightful combination! If you would like to incorporate raspberry preserves into the bars, then I would add the cream cheese layer as directed and then swirl about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the preserves into the cream cheese layer before baking.
This is a great recipe for lemon bars! The one thing I do extra is after I put the cake mix mixture in the bottom I par bake it at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes first and take it out and sprinkle white chocolate chips over it before spreading the cream cheese mixture and finish baking then. So good!
I’m glad you enjoy the recipe, and thanks for sharing your extra tip; the addition of white chocolate chips sounds divine!
IF i HAVE A YELLOW CAKE MIX CAN i ADD LEMON JELLO INSTEAD OF THE LEMON CAKE MIX?
I have never tried that particular trick, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! Sift the yellow cake mix with the lemon Jell-O powder, and then follow the recipe as written. If you end up trying it, please let me know what the result was. Good luck!
This was a big hit at our house. I’m confused by the slightly negative reviews, maybe people have trouble following directions? As someone who worked as a baker for years a rule I have is to always follow a new recipe to the letter before making any changes, or swapping out ingredients. This recipe is perfect the way it is.
Love it! So easy and tasty.
Glad you think that!! Thanks so much for trying them!
Very easy recipe. Unfortunately I found them to be a little dry. I baked them for 40 mins. Perhaps I should have cut it back to 35 mins.
I appreciate you trying them!
My family has used this same recipe for years and I am 68 years old. We alternate with lemon, yellow or any flavor cake mix for a yummy gooey good snack. I think Paula Deen calls it gooey butter cake. Anyway it’s a never fail recipe and delicious.
Yes, the options are endless! That’s why we love it! Thank you!
I am so excited. I just tried this recipe and I added some lemon elbow. Can’t wait to see how it comes out!
Wow. That’s a keeper!!!!
The lemon bars are an old favorite of mine. I’ve made them for years. Your recipe differs just a little bit from mine. My family loves both.
I just made this & was disapointed in the outcome. The cream cheese mixture I spread over the ckae mixture was brown in spots when done. I have yet to taste it but will not be taking for Christmas dessert.
I’ve made these several times for my Dad whom is 94 years old and suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. His absolute favorite ❤️
One of the best bars I have ever made! Husband agrees! I added some lemon extract instead of vanilla. Will add lemon juice next time maybe, just to up the lemon flavor. Also added wild blueberries. Thank you!
One of the best bars I have ever made! Husband agrees! Will be making this recipe for years to come. Thank you
Disappointing! Not much lemon taste. Added additional zest as recipe suggests. A lemon glaze helped. Wouldn’t make again.
Thanks for the honest feedback and for giving the recipe a try. Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the recipe.
Love this recipe, simple and delicious! Definitely a new favorite of mine:)
Gonna try this coming weekend at lake get together sounds good
Hope you enjoy!
Just made these for my boyfriend but he only had brown sugar, not powdered. Took a chance. Added honey. Also no lemon zest so added some strawberry extract. Color was wacky so I added a big plop of cool whip to mixture #2.
Thoughts and prayers please lol
I think these are delicious! I added the juice from the lemon to the cream cheese mixture, definitely gonna make again! I took a warming piece out but decided to chill them in fridge, can’t wait till they’re cold! Thanks for posting!
You’re welcome!! So glad you enjoyed them!
Mine looks like a cake? What happened?
Hmmm… I’m not sure. Did you make the two layers – the cake mix “crust” layer (step 2) and then the cream cheese layer (step 3) on top of that?
Oh my word!!!!!! DELISH
Thank you
You’re welcome!!
Got them in the oven now cooking! They look so delicious! Can’t wait to try them once they cool off!!
not totally aweful but not something I would spend time or ingredients making again. very little lemon flavor and texture is not pleasant
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
These lemon bars are such a great, tasty summer treat! The cake mix makes the recipe that much easier. Thank you!
I am astonished at how well these turned out, they were so sweet and perfectly tart all at once.
I made these one afternoon for my kids, I had to tell them though I only made a half-batch for them to try at first since I had already eaten half the bars before I stopped myself.
I usually buy a lemon bar mix, but I like this even better. One day I’ll make them completely from scratch. Until then, this recipe is perfect.
An easier version of a lemon bar. We enjoy a good lemon bar that taste good and not hard to make.
The cake mix makes these the easiest bars to make!! They are so soft & chewy & have the perfect lemon flavor!