↑
  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Travel Index
  • Lifestyle
  • Disclosures
  • Contact
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Easy Peasy Meals

Easy Recipes, Slow Cooker Meals, Meal Planning & Meal Prep

  • About
  • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Disclosures
    • Privacy + Ad Policy
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Widget Area

  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Dessert
  • Method
    • Air fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Skillet
    • Sheet Pan
    • Slow Cooker
    • Grill / Smoker
  • Holiday
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • NYE
  • Protein
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Turkey
    • Pork
    • Fish
    • Vegetarian
  • Low-Carb
Home » Bakery » Lemon Cheesecake Bars
This post may contain affiliate links. See my Full Disclosure for further details.
Bakery

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

By Rachael | Updated on August 16, 2024

874 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

This decadent dessert is the combination of lemon bars and cheesecake. With great burst of lemon flavor, they aren’t too sweet, and are utterly delicious.

Indulge in a burst of citrus with our irresistible Lemon Cheesecake Bars! Made with a buttery crust, a creamy lemon cheesecake filling that will leave you craving more.

Lemon Cheesecake Bars are perfect for spring

Lemon Bars meet cheesecake in this delightfully refreshing spring dessert. These easy bars start with a cake mix, and are amplified until they are better than the box with burst of lemon flavor, and just enough sweetness to enjoy! Top with fresh berries and lemon zest for a bright, fresh, treat.

Serve as a dessert after a lovely Citrus Shrimp Spring Salad or Santa Fe Salad!

Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Like this recipe? Pin it to your Dessert pinboard!
Follow Eazy Peazy Mealz on Pinterest

Sometimes in life you want the ultimate dessert, and you want it to be Eazy Peazy. Which is why this dessert is one of my favorites. It starts with a boxed cake mix, and is then made better by skipping the traditional use, and instead repurposing the mix.

Instead of a cake, I used it to form the crusty bottom of our lemon cheesecake bars. Using a lemon cake mix, and adding extra fresh lemon juice helped to really bring up the lemon flavor. Then it is topped with a thin cheesecake layer, baked it all up, and then topped with even more no-bake cheesecake goodness.

A delicious cheesecake bar made with lemon

The most challenging part of this dessert is being patient while it cools and sets. When you first pull it out of the oven, the top of the bars will be a little wet, and gooey. But by letting it chill in the fridge for an hour or so, they set into that lemon bar like goodness.

Then you top them with a special cheesecake layer or cream cheese, powdered sugar, and plenty of lemon juice for that extra burst of citrus-y goodness.

Stand alone, it is phenomenal. Add some fresh berries, and it is out of this world. It is the ideal spring dessert because it is just so light and bright. It makes you welcome flowers and sunshine!

Can we just talk about how great berries and lemon are together? They are like the ultimate combination of delicious-ness. Now I like these to be rather thin, so you get just the right amount of the three layers in each bite. But if you want a thicker bar, feel free to bake in an 8×8 pan, and increase baking time by about 5 minutes.

A pan of lemon cheesecake bars

Storing Leftovers

To store lemon cheesecake bars, follow these steps:

  1. Cool Completely: Allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely at room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation from forming inside the storage container.
  2. Refrigerate: Place the cooled cheesecake bars in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 5-7 days.
  3. Avoid Odor Absorption: Store the cheesecake bars away from strong-smelling foods in the refrigerator to prevent them from absorbing odors.
  4. Freezing (Optional): If you want to freeze the cheesecake bars, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. They can be frozen for up to 1-2 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  5. Serve: When ready to serve, cut the cheesecake bars into squares and enjoy them chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with fresh lemon zest or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Tips for Stronger Lemon Flavor

  1. Use fresh lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice has a more vibrant flavor compared to bottled juice. Use it in both the cheesecake filling and the glaze for a fresh, citrusy taste.
  2. Add lemon zest: Incorporate finely grated lemon zest into the cheesecake batter for an extra burst of lemon flavor. The zest contains aromatic oils that will intensify the citrus taste. Or garnish with lemon zest on top of the berries. This is my favorite zester!
  3. Use lemon extract: If you want a more pronounced lemon flavor, add a small amount of lemon extract to the cake mix batter. Start with a teaspoon and adjust to taste.
  4. Increase the amount of lemon juice: If you prefer a stronger lemon taste, increase the amount of lemon juice in the recipe. Be careful not to add too much, as it can affect the texture of the cheesecake.
  5. Let the flavors meld: For the best flavor, refrigerate the lemon cheesecake bars for several hours or overnight before serving. This allows the lemon flavor to fully develop and meld with the other ingredients.
  6. Add lemon curd: Swirl a layer of lemon curd into the cheesecake topping when covering the bars, this will give it a more intense lemon flavor and a marbled appearance.

Easy lemon cheesecake bars that start with a cake mix

Other Great Desserts

  • Lemon Meringue
  • Lemon Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Raspberry Buttercream
  • Lemon Squares
  • Brownie Lovers Cheesecake with Ultimate Hot Fudge Sauce
  • White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
  • Raspberry Cheesecake Trifle
Lemon Cheesecake Bars are perfect for spring

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Delicious lemon cheesecake bars. Lemon Bars meet cheesecake in this delightfully refreshing spring dessert. These easy bars start with a cake mix, and are amplified until they are better than the box with burst of lemon flavor, and just enough sweetness to enjoy! Top with fresh berries and lemon zest for a bright, fresh, treat.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon cheesecake bars, lemon cheesecake bars recipe
Prep Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 2 hours hours 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Author: Rachael

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 box 16.25 ounces unprepared, Lemon Cake Mix (Ginger Evans brand)
  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbs lemon juice

Cheesecake Layer:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 Tbs lemon juice
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbs lemon zest
  • 2 eggs

Topping:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbs lemon zest
  • 1-2 Tbs lemon juice fresh

Garnish:

  • Berries of choice
  • Lemon zest

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, mix together crust ingredients using a hand mixer, until combined.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray
  • Press crust mixture into the bottom, spreading it evenly.
  • In a clean bowl, use hand mixer to cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest. Once smooth, add in the 2 eggs, and beat until mixed well.
  • Spread evenly over crust mixture.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 23-26 minutes, until crust is lightly browned, and cheescake mixture is set.
  • Refrigerate for an hour.
  • Meanwhile, mix together topping by combining everything in a large bowl, and beating until smooth, use as much lemon juice as needed to get the consistency you want.
  • Once bars are cooled, spread topping mixture over top, and let chill.
  • Slice into 12 even sized bars, top with fresh berries and additional lemon zest, and enjoy.
  • Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ezpzmealz or tag #ezpzmealz!
Want to use this recipe in a meal plan?Try PrePear, my FREE Meal Planning App that allows you to save your recipes, plan meals, shop for groceries, and cook simply in one place. Join Here!

Pin to your dessert board:
Easy lemon cheesecake bars that start with a boxed cake mix, but are better than the box.

Related

874 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Related categories:
Bakery Bars Cheesecake Dessertbaking cheesecake lemon lemon bars

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. simsmobileguide.com says

    October 7, 2018 at 2:34 am

    That is so good way that we can have for sims.

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Rachael from Eazy Peazy Mealz

Welcome, I'm Rachael!

I’m a mom of 4 great kids that keep me super busy.

My philosophy is cooking has to be easy, tasty, kid approved, and fit between homework, piano practice, soccer, and the MOUNTAINS of laundry in my life! Read More Work With Me
Take the Hassle Out of Meal Time!
FREE EMAIL COURSE + Printable Recipe Binder!
 
Easy, quick prep meals your family will want to eat sent straight to your inbox!
Thank you for subscribing!

Crock Pot Meals

Creamy, comforting, and packed with sweet corn, this hearty corn chowder is the perfect cozy meal. Easy to make and full of flavor—great for weeknights or entertaining.

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

White Chicken Chili, a delicious slow cooker chili with white beans, and tons of flavor.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken over bowtie noodles.

Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken

Crock pot loaded baked potato soup topped with crispy bacon, chives, and cheese

Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup

20 Minute Meals

Easy to make Chicken Salad recipe, loaded with fresh ingredients and crunch.
Fresh spring rolls with a peanut dipping sauce
lemon garlic parmesan shrimp bowl with rice
Pop hearts, homemade pop tarts, flakey pie crust stuffed with raspberry jam and baked to golden perfection.

Free Kitchen Binder eBook

Let's Do This!

browse allRecipes By Method

slow cook

Sheet Pan

Air Fryer

Instant Pot

Grill/Smoke

One Pot

Skillet

Let's Work Together

Hi, I'm Rachael, and I am obsessed with sharing quality products and solid recipes. I can work with you to develop, test and create original recipes and content using YOUR products, and share it across Eazy Peazy Mealz blog and social channels, reaching thousands of dedicated readers.

Let's Do This

Footer

Eazy Peazy Meals
  • About
  • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2025, Easy Peasy Meals. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.