Easy Lemon Cream Cheese Bars (Crescent Roll Dessert Recipe)
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These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars are an easy dessert made with crescent rolls, sweet cream cheese filling, and bright lemon flavor. If you love lemon bars with cream cheese, this shortcut recipe is one of the easiest desserts you can make.
I’ve made these delectable bars countless times, and they’re always a hit at gatherings.
They’re my go-to dessert when I need something quick, easy, and absolutely delicious.
If you love lemon-based desserts, you might also want to check out my Lemon Love Cake and Lemon Delight recipes—they’re equally irresistible!
Table of contents
- Why You’ll Love These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Ingredients for Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Bars with Crescent Rolls
- Video Tutorial: How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Tips for the Best Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- How to Serve Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Lemon Cream Cheese Bar Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes
Why You’ll Love These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
I absolutely adore this recipe because it’s a crowd-pleaser and incredibly easy to make.
The combination of creamy, tangy lemon filling sandwiched between layers of flaky crescent roll dough is just heavenly.
Plus, it requires minimal ingredients and effort, making it a favorite in my busy household.
These bars also have a nostalgic element for me, as they remind me of the lemon bars my grandmother used to make.
Ingredients for Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
This recipe uses simple ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen:
- Refrigerated crescent roll dough: Provides the perfect flaky base and top layer for these bars.
- Lemons: Both the zest and juice give a fresh, tangy flavor that makes these bars pop. If you don’t have fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice and dried zest can work in a pinch.
- Cream cheese: Adds creaminess and richness to the filling.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese filling and the topping.
- Butter: Used in the topping to create a delightful, golden crust.
How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Bars with Crescent Rolls
Making these Lemon Cream Cheese Bars is a breeze.
Here’s how you can whip them up:
- Prepare the baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil. Grease it well.
- Layer the dough: Unroll one can of crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of your baking dish, ensuring it covers the entire bottom evenly.
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl, blend together softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and zest until smooth. Spread this mixture over the dough in the baking dish.
- Top it off: Unroll the second can of crescent roll dough and place it on top of the filling. Pour melted butter over this layer, then sprinkle with a mix of sugar and lemon zest.
- Bake and chill: Bake for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate until firm.
Video Tutorial: How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Click the play button below, and I’ll show you how to make these yummy Lemon Cream Cheese Bars step-by-step.
Tips for the Best Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened before mixing it to avoid lumps in your filling.
- Don’t skip refrigerating the bars after they’ve cooled! This helps them set properly and makes them easier to cut.
- Use a microplane zester for the lemons to get finely grated zest that incorporates well into the mixture.
How to Serve Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
These Lemon Cream Cheese Bars are best served chilled.
They’re perfect as a snack, a dessert after a light meal, or even as a tangy breakfast treat alongside a cup of coffee or tea.
You can also dust them with a little powdered sugar for an elegant touch before serving.
Lemon Cream Cheese Bar Variations
For those who like to experiment, here are some fun variations:
- Berry Lemon Bars: Add a layer of mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries) between the cream cheese filling and the top layer of dough.
- Almond Lemon Bars: Sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking for an added crunch and nutty flavor.
- Chocolate Drizzle: After cooling, drizzle some melted white or dark chocolate over the bars for a luxurious touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Using low-fat cream cheese will still give you that rich, creamy filling with slightly fewer calories.
These bars can last up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They tend to taste even better after a day or two as the flavors meld together.
Yes, you can freeze them! Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and place them in a zip-top bag or airtight container. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months. Just remember to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best flavor, but bottled lemon juice can be a suitable substitute if that’s what you have on hand.
If you can’t find crescent roll dough, puff pastry is a good alternative. Just make sure to roll it out thin to achieve a similar flaky texture.
For neat edges, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean with a damp cloth between cuts. Chilling the bars thoroughly also helps them firm up, making slicing easier.
Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Ingredients
- 2 pkgs (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent roll dough, divided
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced, divided
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
For the Topping
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and grease well.
- Unroll one can of crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of the greased baking dish, making sure it covers the entire bottom.
- In a medium bowl, blend together cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, lemon juice and 3/4 of the lemon zest. Mix until smooth. Spread over the crescent roll dough in the baking dish.
- Unroll remaining crescent roll dough and place it on top of the lemon cream cheese mixture, stretching to the edges. Make sure to seal the seams.
- Pour melted butter on top of the crescent dough. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and remaining lemon zest in a small bowl then sprinkle over the melted butter.
- Bake for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes then refrigerate until firm.
Video
Nutrition Facts
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More Easy Lemon Dessert Recipes
If you love bright, citrusy desserts like these Lemon Cream Cheese Bars, you might also enjoy some of my other easy lemon desserts. From creamy lemon bars to simple lemon cakes, these recipes are perfect for spring, summer, holidays, or anytime you’re craving something sweet and tangy.
This looks so yummy and easy to.make, which I.will.do as soon as I get my crescent roll dough.
Thanks for sharing
Good recipe! Super easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing!!