Description
Lemon cream cheese bars bring zesty sunshine to classic dessert bars. Creamy, tangy layers melt together with buttery graham cracker crust, offering you a perfect balance of sweet and tart in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) packages of cream cheese, softened
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) packages of refrigerated crescent roll dough
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the baking workspace by positioning an oven rack in the middle position and heating to 350°F (175°C). Create a protective liner in a 9×13-inch pan using aluminum foil, lightly misting with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Carefully unfurl the first crescent roll dough package, gently pressing and stretching the dough to create a uniform bottom layer that completely covers the pan’s surface, ensuring no gaps remain.
- Extract fresh lemon juice and zest, combining most of the zest with cream cheese and sugar. Utilize an electric mixer to transform the ingredients into a silky, uniform mixture, whipping until no lumps persist.
- Distribute the lemon-infused cream cheese mixture evenly across the initial dough layer, maintaining a consistent thickness throughout the pan.
- Delicately layer the second crescent roll dough package over the cream cheese, smoothing out any potential wrinkles or uneven sections.
- Generously brush the top surface with melted butter, creating a golden foundation for the upcoming caramelization.
- Craft a fragrant topping by combining remaining lemon zest with sugar, then generously sprinkle this aromatic mixture across the buttered surface.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven, baking for approximately 30 minutes until the top transforms into a rich, golden-brown color and the edges become slightly crisp.
- Remove from the oven and allow the dessert to cool for 20 minutes, permitting the layers to settle and flavors to meld.
- Utilize the foil edges to carefully lift the entire dessert from the pan, then slice into precise squares while still positioned on the foil.
- Refrigerate the bars for a minimum of one hour, enabling them to firm up and intensify their lemony essence before serving.
Notes
- Zesty adventure starts with simple ingredients waiting to transform into delightful bars bursting with tangy lemon and creamy richness.
- Crescent roll dough becomes magical canvas for this no-fuss dessert that promises quick preparation and crowd-pleasing results.
- Chilling bars allows flavors to meld and texture to set perfectly, creating irresistible squares that taste like bakery-fresh goodness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg