These lemon cream cheese bars require only five ingredients and come together quickly — an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s perfect for gatherings.
Why You’ll Love These
- Enjoy them warm or chilled — both are delicious.
- The egg-free filling lets you taste and adjust sweetness and lemon flavor before baking.
- If lemon isn’t your favorite, swap with orange or omit citrus entirely for a similar, milder bar.
Ingredient Notes For Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Crescent Dough Sheets – Look in the refrigerated dairy section. If you can’t find sheets, standard crescent roll dough will work too.
Cream Cheese – Use softened cream cheese so the filling mixes smooth.
Top Tips
- Start with a small amount of lemon zest and increase to taste — zest is potent.
- Avoid lemon extract; fresh lemon gives the best flavor.
- Let the bars cool at least 20 minutes before slicing so they set properly.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
How Much Lemon Juice Do I Need To Use?
I used about 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, which gave a bright but balanced flavor. Fresh juice is recommended over bottled.
How Much Zest?
Lemon zest is concentrated, so 1/4 teaspoon adds noticeable brightness — adjust to your preference.
More Delicious Desserts You’ll Probably Enjoy
- Cream Cheese Nutella Cookies
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Muffins
- Cream Cheese Banana Muffins
- Salted Caramel Cheesecake
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Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Ingredients
- 2 8 ounce crescent dough sheets, refrigerated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp lemon zest, or to taste
Topping
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until smooth. Taste and adjust sugar or zest as desired.
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Unroll one crescent dough sheet and press it into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the dough with a spatula.
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Unroll the second crescent dough sheet and lay it over the cream cheese layer. Brush the top with the melted butter using a pastry brush.
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Sprinkle the top with the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, distributing it evenly. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until golden and set.
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Allow the bars to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Add lemon zest sparingly at first — you can always add more for extra brightness.
- Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for the best flavor.
- Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing so the filling firms up.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.
Nutrition information is estimated and provided as an approximation only.
Additional Info
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