October 7, 2023
Review RecipeLemon Pie Bars
Table of Contents
These delicious lemon pie bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, with a crumbly crust that will make your taste buds tingle. This recipe uses an easy cake mix to create a soft base and topping that surrounds a citrusy lemon layer.
Lemon Pie Bars Ingredients
The vanilla cake provides both a soft base and a buttery and crumbly topping.
The lemon curd layer brings plenty of zing, making them perfect for lemon enthusiasts and sweet tooth cravings.
You’ll need:
- 2 boxes of vanilla cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 2 (24-ounce) jars of lemon curd
- 1-2 tablespoons whole milk or cream (or lemon juice)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Substitutions And Additions
CAKE MIX: You can use white, yellow, or even lemon cake mix instead of the vanilla cake mix for this sweet treat.
LEMON CURD: While lemon curd is the star of this recipe, you can experiment with other fruit curds, such as lime, orange, or even passion fruit, to create unique variations.
These alternatives will offer a different citrusy twist while maintaining the luscious curd-like texture.
How To Make This Lemon Pie Bars Recipe
Once you make the cake mix crust, you will top it with the tasty lemon curd and even more crumbled cake mix.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Keep in mind that you will get a different shape and depth of corner bars depending on the baking pan you are using. If you are using a baking pan with rounded corners (usually glass), your corner pieces will not come out quite so defined, while metal pans tend to have clean-cut corners that will give you better-formed corner bars.
STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, beat together the cake mixes, eggs, and vegetable oil.
Beat with an electric hand mixer (or stand mixer) until combined. The mixture will be thick and crumbly.
STEP THREE: Remove half of the mixture and set it aside. Press the remaining dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
STEP FOUR: Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your bars as the suggested baking time approaches.
STEP FIVE: Pour the lemon curd over the pre-baked bar base.
PRO TIP:
Use less lemon curd for a thin layer of lemon filling and a sturdier cookie bar.
STEP SIX: Sprinkle the reserved dough in clumps over the top of the lemon pie filling.
STEP SEVEN: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer until the top of the bars is just beginning to brown.
STEP EIGHT: Cool bars completely.
STEP NINE: Whisk together powdered sugar and enough milk or cream to make a sugar glaze.
You can use lemon juice instead of milk to add additional lemon flavor. Drizzle over the top of the cooled bars.
STEP TEN: Cut into bars and serve with plates and forks.
How To Serve
Enjoy these lemon pie squares for an afternoon snack, along with a delicious vanilla latte or Wendy’s Frosty.
You could even turn them into a bigger dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a spoonful of whipped cream.
Lemon desserts are the way to go if you love the tangy taste. Our lemon cheesecake and lemon custard cake are two more delightful choices.
MORE PIE BAR RECIPES
Storage
Here’s your guide to storing and preserving the lemony goodness:
MAKE AHEAD: If you’d like to plan ahead or save some time, you can prepare the lemon pie bars in advance.
Simply follow the recipe as usual, bake the bars, and allow them to cool completely.
Once cooled, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, ensuring they are well-sealed, and store them in the refrigerator for up to two days before serving.
This make-ahead option allows you to enjoy these treats freshly baked whenever you desire.
ON THE COUNTER: Store leftover lemon squares, covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, at room temperature for two to three days.
IN THE FREEZER: Store lemon bars in the freezer for up to one month.
Why We Love This Recipe
LUSCIOUS LEMON: These bars are bursting with vibrant lemon flavor that’s both sweet and tangy, making them an irresistible treat for citrus enthusiasts.
SIMPLE TO MAKE: With straightforward ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, this recipe is perfect for both novice and experienced bakers, promising delicious results every time.
ZESTY AND SWEET: The bars strike a perfect balance between the zesty lemon curd and the sweetness of the cake mix base, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that’s simply irresistible.
These easy lemon pie bars are an easy way to satisfy your craving for a lemony treat. You really can’t go wrong with a tart and rich lemon curd baked into a soft, sweet cake crust. This treat may disappear fast, so we recommend a double batch!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This easy recipe would be perfect for customization. Just replace the lemon curd with pie filling of your choosing, and you will have created an entirely new dessert.
Just like the variety of filling choices, you can also opt for a different flavor of cake mix for your soft crust in this recipe.
These delicious bars can be stored in the freezer for up to a month in an airtight container.
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- Lemon Coffee Cake
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Lemon Pie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 boxes vanilla cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 48 ounces lemon curd
- 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk, cream or lemon juice
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set it aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cake mixes, eggs, and vegetable oil. Beat with a hand (or stand) mixer until combined. The mixture will be thick and crumbly.
- Remove half of the mixture and set it aside. Press the remaining dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.
- Pour the lemon curd over the pre-baked bar base.
- Sprinkle the reserved dough in clumps over the top of the lemon pie filling.
- Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer until the top of the bars is just beginning to brown.
- Cool bars completely.
- Whisk together powdered sugar and enough milk or cream to make a sugar glaze. You can use lemon juice instead of milk to add additional lemon flavor. Drizzle over the top of the cooled lemon pie bars.
- Cut into bars and serve with plates and forks.
Notes
- Keep in mind that you will get a different shape and depth of corner bars depending on the baking pan you are using. If you are using a baking pan with rounded corners (usually glass), your corner pieces will not come out quite so defined, while metal pans tend to have clean-cut corners that will give you better-formed corner bars.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your bars as the suggested baking time approaches.
- Use less lemon curd for a thin layer of lemon filling and a sturdier cookie bar.
Comments
Norma says
How do I make this delicious lemon filling to make mini hand pies?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Norma – we haven’t tested using this filling for hand pies so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Please let me know if you try it.. enjoy!
Mary says
Can lemon pie filling be used in place of lemon curd?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Mary – we recommend sticking with lemon curd for this recipe, enjoy!