Description
Zesty lemon cream cheese bars combine tangy citrus with creamy richness, creating a delightful dessert. Bakers seeking a simple yet elegant treat will appreciate this dessert’s balanced flavors and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (8 oz/226 g) packages cream cheese, softened
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 2 (8 oz/226 g) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
- ½ cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tbsps butter, melted
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack in middle and preheat to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
- Base Layer: Unroll first crescent roll dough, stretching and pressing to create a uniform bottom layer that completely covers the pan’s surface without gaps.
- Filling Creation: Combine lemon zest, cream cheese, and sugar using an electric mixer until achieving a smooth, lump-free consistency. Incorporate fresh lemon juice for enhanced flavor.
- Assembly: Spread the lemon-infused cream cheese mixture evenly across the dough base, ensuring consistent thickness throughout the pan.
- Top Layer: Carefully place the second crescent roll dough over the cream cheese filling, smoothing out any wrinkles or uneven sections.
- Finishing Touches: Brush the surface generously with melted butter, then sprinkle a mixture of remaining lemon zest and sugar across the top.
- Baking Process: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the surface turns golden-brown and edges become slightly crisp.
- Cooling and Setting: Remove from oven and let cool for 20 minutes, allowing layers to settle and flavors to meld. Lift the entire dessert from the pan using foil edges.
- Serving Preparation: Slice into precise squares and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up and intensify the lemony essence before serving.
Notes
- Precise Pan Preparation: Line the baking pan with foil and spray lightly to prevent sticking, ensuring easy removal and clean cutting of bars.
- Dough Handling Strategy: Gently stretch crescent roll dough to create an even, gap-free bottom layer for consistent texture and uniform baking.
- Cream Cheese Mixing Technique: Use an electric mixer to whip cream cheese, lemon zest, and sugar until completely smooth, eliminating any potential lumps for a silky filling.
- Cooling and Setting Tip: Allow bars to cool for 20 minutes, then refrigerate for at least one hour to enhance flavor intensity and achieve perfect bar consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg