Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Lemon Cream Cheese Bars offer a perfect balance of creamy richness and bright, tangy lemon flavor, layered on a buttery shortbread crust. These refreshing bars are ideal for any occasion and are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 2 8 ounce packages refrigerated crescent roll dough (such as Pillsbury® Recipe Creations®), divided
- 2 lemons zested and juiced, divided
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.
- Unroll 1 crescent roll dough; press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, stretching to the edges.
- Mix together lemon juice and 3/4 of the lemon zest in a large bowl. Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar into juice-zest mixture with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; spread over crescent roll dough in the baking dish.
- Unroll remaining crescent roll dough and place over cream cheese mixture, stretching to the edges. Brush melted butter on top. Mix together 3 tablespoons sugar and remaining lemon zest in a small bowl; sprinkle over melted butter.
- Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Lift dessert from the baking dish using foil; transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares, leaving on foil. Return dessert to the baking dish and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.