Samantha Nicole Lemons seem to signal a fresh beginning and boy, do we have a new beginning of lemon desserts just for you! These Cream Cheese Lemon Bars are not the typical thin-layered bars you’ve seen at every potluck you’ve ever attended. Boy, oh, boy, no way! These bars are filled with a velvety cream cheese and luscious lemon curd heavenly-swirled concoction atop a buttery, sensational crust. Goodness, me! These Cream Cheese Lemon Bars are just what you’ve been looking for to refresh your zest for citrusy desserts! They’re easy, delicious, and lip-puckering good! Cheers to fresh beginnings!
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling:
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup lemon curd, store-bought
- fresh berries, such as raspberries and strawberries, optional, to taste, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Line a 9-inch square metal baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 3 –In a large bowl with a spoon, add the butter, the granulated sugar, and 1 of the eggs and stir until well-combined.
Step 4 –Add 2 cups of the flour, the baking powder, and the salt to the butter mixture and stir until no dry pockets remain.
Step 5 –Evenly sprinkle the dough on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, pressing down to make an even layer.
Step 6 –Bake until lightly browned across the surface, about 12-15 minutes.
Step 7 –Transfer from the oven to a wire rack and let it cool.
Step 8 –Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Step 9 –In a large bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream cheese and the confectioners’ sugar and beat until well-combined, about 2 minutes.
Step 10 –With a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 11 –With the mixer on low speed, add the remaining eggs, the vanilla extract, and the remaining flour to the cream cheese mixture, beating until combined. Increase the mixer to medium-high speed, and beat until light and airy, about 3 minutes.
Step 12 –Evenly pour and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust.
Step 13 –With a spoon, stir the lemon curd to loosen and then dollop it over the top of the cream cheese mixture layer.
Step 14 –With the tip of a butter knife inserted into the lemon curd-cream cheese mixture, make swirls to lightly combine.
Step 15 –Bake until evenly browned, rotating the baking dish halfway through baking, about 50 minutes.
Step 16 –Transfer the bars from the oven to a wire rack and cool completely before serving.
Step 17 –Once cooled, with a sharp knife, cut the bars into serving-size pieces, plate with the raspberries and the strawberries, and serve.
