Description
Lazy Day Lemon Cream Pie Bars deliver a zesty, refreshing slice of happiness right from your kitchen counter. Creamy, tangy, and simple to whip up, these bars will make your dessert dreams come true without breaking a sweat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 large eggs
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Flavoring and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring extra hangs over the sides for easy bar removal.
- Combine 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup melted unsalted butter, and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a bowl until the mixture becomes a crumbly texture.
- Press the graham cracker mixture firmly and uniformly across the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for exactly 10 minutes, then remove and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat 2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese until it becomes completely smooth and creamy.
- Add 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk and mix thoroughly until no lumps remain.
- Whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, ensuring complete incorporation after each addition.
- Stir in ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon salt until the mixture is perfectly smooth.
- Pour the lemon cream filling evenly across the pre-baked graham cracker crust.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F, watching for the center to be almost set but still slightly jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely at room temperature.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight to ensure the bars set fully.
- Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and slice into square servings.
- Serve chilled and store remaining bars in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Always use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling that blends perfectly.
- Zest the lemons before juicing them to extract maximum flavor and brighten the entire dessert.
- Chill the bars thoroughly before cutting to get clean, precise slices that hold their shape beautifully.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs to maintain the same delicious texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 304 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 187 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg