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Citrus Lemon Bars Cake Mix: Easy Recipe & Baking Tips


  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars 1x

Description

Bright and tangy lemon bars with a citrus glaze, made easy with a lemon cake mix! These bars are bursting with lemon, orange, and lime flavors, perfect for a refreshing treat.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box (15.25 ounces) lemon cake mix
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon cake mix, melted butter, eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat the ingredients together until well combined and the batter is smooth. Don’t overmix.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to evenly spread the batter across the bottom of the pan.
  5. Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Once the lemon bars are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan.
  7. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
  8. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, lime juice, lemon zest, orange zest, and lime zest to the bowl.
  9. Whisk all the ingredients together until the glaze is smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with more lemon juice or powdered sugar as needed.
  10. Once the lemon bars are completely cool, pour the citrus glaze over the top. Use a spatula to evenly spread the glaze over the entire surface of the bars.
  11. Allow the glaze to set completely before cutting the bars (about 30 minutes to an hour).
  12. Once the glaze is set, use a sharp knife to cut the lemon bars into squares or rectangles.
  13. Garnish with a sprinkle of lemon zest, orange zest, or lime zest.

Notes

  • Use freshly squeezed citrus juice for the best flavor.
  • Don’t overbake the lemon bars. They should be slightly soft in the center.
  • Cool the bars completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting.
  • Adjust the sweetness of the glaze to your preference.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
  • These lemon bars freeze well!
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes