This is our easy lemon bars with cake mix recipe with lemon pie filling you’ll love! Nobody will know these weren’t homemade. A boxed cake mix recipe makes the sugar cookie crust + canned lemon curd for this tasty dessert treat.
If you’re looking for a quick dessert to throw together and serve to your guests, these easy lemon bars with white cake mix are it. With 2 pantry ingredients, and egg and butter you can make a simple 3 ingredient pie crust with a fruit topping, you could really use any flavor too.
Ok so y’ll know how obsessed I am with easy cake mix hacks. True that. This is just one of many where you can use a boxed mix to make something totally different from cake or cupcakes. I mean that is okay but kinda’ boring right?? Now THIS one gives you a ton of opportunities to swap things up with not just lemon but all the things…..
Use a “plain” boxed flavor or homemade yellow cake mix flavor for the crust below or give it a tweak by using strawberry or in this case lemon to intensify the flavors! There are other types of filling you can choose from too. So far I’ve found raspberry, lime and orange beyond this one. That means more duos you can create if you have a group coming over.
Can you use any flavor cake mix?
You are going to make the bar “crust” with 1 box dry cake mix. Lemon is best or use yellow or white for best results, 15.25 oz, but yes any flavor works technically to make it with the egg and butter.
You want to incorporate 1 large Egg added at room temperature ideally plus some salted Butter melted, Kerrygold is the best flavor and texture if you ask me.
And then to make it pretty you will want to sprinkle on some powdered sugar for the top to look pretty
Made with Lemon Pie Filling
You can make this with pie filling or make homemade curd for the filling instead of bottled you could do that for sure too, we are talking about easy this time though. For a dairy free option, use vegan plant based butter sticks instead.
Now the above is going to make your sugar cookie crust. You can use this as the base for ALL sorts of baked goods beyond this one like our pumpkin pie sheet cake and more. With butter and an egg it creates a dough you can spread and mold into whatever shape of pan you have. A bit of fresh lemon zest on top is great if you have fresh fruit with you.
You’re going to need a 9×13″ baking dish so the thickness is just right and lining it with parchment paper makes it a lot easier to serve. If you just use non stick cooking spray your cake mix lemon squares won’t be as pretty.
How Long to Bake Lemon Bars
You do not want to bake these too long because the texture is important and should be quite tender and soft but you do want the bottom of the crust a bit firmer so it doesn’t fall apart and can be sliced nicely. 30 minutes is about right, then allow to cool in the pan to further firm up before cutting into squares.
Baking Tips
If you made a homemade filling you would need to make that separately and make sure it was at room temperature before adding on top of the bottom layer.
Most of the time this lemon bar recipe does not last beyond the first sitting. I make it when others are visiting so 12 or so pieces works out quite well. If you cut them smaller you could certainly get 24 pieces out of it.
How do you make lemon bars not stick to the pan?
You really must line it with parchment paper. Then when done and cooled completely you can lift the whole thing out, use a sharp knife, and cut into pretty squares to serve and enjoy together.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. You can make this the same way but drip a bit of cooled cranberry sauce over the top and then drag a knife over the top thru the curd so it looks pretty with 2 colors and flavors.
2. Add some sweetened shredded coconut to the shortbread crust or sprinkle it on top of the lemon filling when done too.
3. When done, add a few fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries on top for a fruity twist.
4. Adding some chopped almonds or walnuts to the crust or sprinkling them on top of the filling after baking can give your bars some crunch.
5. Spreading a bit of softened cream cheese underneath this topping would be a great combination of flavors.
6. Add a bit of vanilla extract to the lemon curd filling can enhance the flavor and make your bars even more delicious.
7. Want a kick once they have cooled? Drizzle some chocolate sauce over the top, I mean how can you go wrong with that??
If you cannot find curd at all in your store or don’t want to buy it you can swap it out for pie filling too. There are even more flavors as far as that one goes. I have even seen lemon varieties of this which is basically the same but usually a bit cheaper on the wallet.
We make our shortbread crust with cake mix, an egg and some melted butter to make things easy! If made homemade you would need more ingredients than that including flour and sugar etc… You can add vanilla or almond extract for added flavor too.
Lemon Bars with Cake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix, yellow or white, 15.25 oz
- 1 egg
- 1/2 c butter, melted
- 1 jar lemon curd, 13 oz
- 1/4 c powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, egg and melted butter.
- Press the batter evenly into the bottom of a 9×12 pan (lined with parchment paper). Spread the lemon curd over top.
- Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are slightly brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before sprinkling on powdered sugar.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other cake mix recipes
This is a great one!! Creating a sort of shortbread pie crust and spreading pie filling or curd on the top to create a bar once cooled is a fun new recipe with boxed mix. If you have never done it yet you can actually make other treats with it too like our or lemon crinkle cookies which are fun!
How to save leftovers
If you do have leftovers you should keep them in a sealed container or wrapped in foil and in the fridge. Enjoy within 7 days but 1-2 days later is ideal as they will begin to dry out over time in the cold air.
You’re right, these are so easy to make. Brilliant to use a cake mix for the base.
I had no idea you could make lemon bars with cake mix! This was so fun to make and really hit the sweet spot for me.
I made these lemon bars to take into work today and they were incredible! So full of summer flavor!
These lemon bars were the perfect amount of sweet and tangy. Delish!
delicious and easy to make. thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m saving for for later.