Lemon Bars with Cake Mix
Quick and easy lemon bars made with a yellow cake mix crust and a tangy lemon filling. Perfect for a refreshing dessert, these bars are baked to perfection and dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet finish.
Ingredients
1 box lemon cake mix
- This is the secret to making these bars so quick and easy. The cake mix serves as the base for both the crust and the filling giving it that delicious, fluffy texture and lemony flavor.
2 large eggs
- Eggs help bind everything together and create that lovely soft texture we love in lemon bars.
⅓ cup vegetable oil
- This adds moisture to the cake mix ensuring the bars are soft and not dry. You can substitute with melted butter for a richer flavor, but oil keeps it light and easy.
1 cup powdered sugar
- This will be used to dust the top of the bars for that finishing touch. Powdered sugar also adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the tangy lemon.
1 tablespoon lemon zest (optional, but highly recommended!)
- For an extra burst of fresh lemon flavor a bit of zest can really elevate the bars.It’s a small tweak that can make a world of difference in flavor!
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- You can’t have lemon bars without that tart refreshing kick! Fresh lemon juice brightens up the bars and enhances the lemon flavor.
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s hot and ready for the bars as soon as you’re done preparing the batter.
Prepare the Pan
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray or a little butter. For easy removal later, you can also line the pan with parchment paper. This step is crucial to avoid any sticking and to keep the bars looking perfect!
Mix the Cake Batter
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir the ingredients together until the batter is smooth and well combined. It will be thicker than a traditional cake batter, but that's exactly what we want for the base.
Spread the Batter in the Pan
- Pour the batter into your prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly, making sure it covers the entire bottom of the pan. This will create the base layer for your lemon bars.
Bake the Base
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The base should be firm yet slightly soft to the touch. Remove it from the oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
Make the Lemon Filling
- While the base is cooling, take a small bowl and whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest (if using), and powdered sugar. This mixture will form the zesty topping for your bars.
Pour the Lemon Filling
- Once the base has cooled slightly, pour the lemon filling over the cake layer. Use a spatula to spread it evenly, ensuring every bite gets a bit of that tangy goodness.
Finish Baking
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly golden on top. It should no longer jiggle when you shake the pan gently.
Cool and Dust with Powdered Sugar
- After baking, let the lemon bars cool completely in the pan. Once they’ve cooled down, dust the top with powdered sugar for that sweet finishing touch. This adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the tangy lemon flavor.
Slice and Serve
- Once completely cooled, slice the lemon bars into squares. You can cut them into large or small pieces, depending on how you prefer to serve them!
Notes
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 200
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 22g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sodium: 150mg
- Potassium: 45mg