Ingredients:
Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
Filling:
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Make the Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
- Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press the crumb mixture into the prepared pan to form an even crust.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool completely.
Make the Filling:
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
- Beat in flour, eggs one at a time, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt until well combined.
- Pour the filling evenly over the cooled crust.
Bake:
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Let cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.
Tips:
- For a tangier flavor, use Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese.
- To make the bars more lemony, add a tablespoon of lemon extract to the filling.
- For a decorative touch, top with powdered sugar or lemon zest before serving.
Enjoy your delicious Lemon Cream Cheese Bars!