Turn your favorite Gooey Butter Cake into a Lemon dessert! Gooey Lemon Cake Bars make everybody happy and no one has to know you started with a box of cake mix!
For more easy cake mix recipes, try our delicious lemon poke cake next. Or give our cake mix cookies a try for a unique treat.
Why this Recipe is Best
I based today’s lemon bars off of this easy Gooey Butter Cake recipe. By just changing it slightly they become a whole new dessert.
If you love lemon treats as much as I do you’re going to fall head over heels for these cake bars! They’re full of zesty lemon goodness, like sunshine in bar form. Sure to brighten your day!
- This recipe starts with a cake mix for easy assembly.
- The bars have a soft gooey topping, baked on a cake mix crust.
- You can store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
If you’re loving lemon, be sure to try our delicious, from scratch, lemon cake recipe. Don’t forget to try the lemon frosting too.
Ingredient Notes
- Lemon Cake Mix- Start with a boxed mix for today’s easy recipe. Any brand will do.
- Cream Cheese – Choose the “block” not the tub of cream cheese and use full fat cream cheese for best results. Don’t forget to let it soften at room temperature for a few minutes first.
- Powdered Sugar – This is used to sweeten the gooey layer, and you’ll want to dust the finished dessert with more for a pretty presentation!
PRO TIP- We love making our own homemade vanilla extract, but if using store bought, be sure it’s pure extract, not imitation (for best flavor).
Easy Instructions
STEP 1. Make the crust. Combine the cake mix, butter and egg until well mixed. Press into the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish.
STEP 2. Make the filling. Combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and eggs in a mixer and beat until fluffy. Pour over the crust.
STEP 3. Bake, cool and refrigerate. Bake the bars in a 325 degree oven for 40-45 minutes then let cool completely. For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure to let your butter and cream cheese come to room temperature. This is important!
- When in doubt, underbake. My bars are ready to come out of the oven at about 40 minutes. Underbaking also helps show the definitive separation in layers.
- Chill well. I know the cake smells so good when it comes out of the oven, you’ll be tempted to dig in right away. But cooling the bars and then chilling them for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator before serving helps them firm up to the right texture. I also LOVE the taste of these bars best when they’re cold.
- Top with powdered sugar. These bars look best with a dusting of powdered sugar on top to add a sweet decorative touch!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! It’s labeled as one or the other, depending on the brand. So if your box says “confectioner’s sugar” it can still be used in this recipe.
Absolutely. Bake the bars the night before and keep them covered with foil or plastic wrap in the fridge overnight.
Yes! After baking and cooling, slice the cake bars and place in an airtight, freezer safe container (or ziploc bag). When ready to enjoy, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy.
More Lemon Recipes
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
- No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
- Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
Easy Cake Recipes
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Gooey Lemon Cake Bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 box Lemon Cake Mix 15 ounce
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
For the filling:
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, butter and egg. Press into the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish.
- Combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla eggs in a mixer. Beat until fluffy. Pour over crust.
- Bake in a 325 degree oven for 40-45 minutes (I underbake mine a little to get that definitive separation in layers). Remove from oven and cool completely.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours (or overnight) for best flavor. ENJOY.
Notes
- When in doubt, underbake. My bars are ready to come out of the oven at about 40 minutes.
- Chill well. I know the cake smells so good when it comes out of the oven, you’ll be tempted to dig in right away. But chilling this for at least 4 hours before serving helps it firm up to the right texture. I also LOVE the taste of these bars best when they’re cold.
- Can this be made ahead of time? Absolutely. Bake them the night before and keep them covered with foil or plastic wrap in the fridge over night.
DELISH! Can’t wait to try with other cake flavors!
Made these bars according to the recipe. The flavor was great. However, the two layers completely separated once chilled. The top layer slid off the crust when I went to cut the bars.
Their in the oven now😋
What is the consistency of bar after it is baked?
These bars could not have been easier to make and came out so delicious. Everyone asked me for the recipe
These turned out delicious!
So I’m late to this party, but here’s my question: My wife is gluten-free and I could only fine a lemon pound cake mix. It calls for three eggs, 1/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup sour cream. Do I need to reduce/skip any of those ingredients to make the crust? Thanks!
Do you grease the pan first?
Would this recipe work with DH strawberry cake mix instead of lemon?
Yes!
Debbie, I use strawberry for valentines & Christmas. Pretty & delicious. I serve with fresh strawberry slices on top. Happy Baking