About
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.
