Citrus Bars

SERVES: 16

COOK TIME: 35 Min

There's nothing more refreshing for dessert than fresh-baked lemon bar cookies. This easy recipe for Citrus Bars is a winner that Mr. Food viewers keep requesting again and again.

What You'll Need

1 (18.25-ounce) package lemon cake mix
2 eggs, divided
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice

What to Do

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, beat cake mix, 1 egg, and oil until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of cake mixture for topping; set aside. Press remaining cake mixture into an ungreased 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Bake 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Add granulated sugar, lemon juice, and remaining egg, beating until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over baked crust and sprinkle with reserved 1 cup cake mixture.
Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until lightly browned; let cool slightly.
In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and orange juice. Drizzle over cake then cover and refrigerate. Once chilled, cut into bars.

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msdeb21

Jun 08, 2017

Yummy! Citrus bars in the summer are the greatest! It's nice to have a go-to recipe that does not have chocolate, or nuts, or coconut, for the finicky eaters in my family. We love the tartness of these bars and enjoy them as dessert after a dinner from the grill!

mollysue1956 35971 42

Feb 17, 2013

What do I have to do since my cake mix is not a 18.5 cake mix?

Member 6583096

Apr 29, 2013

Anytime you have an older recipe that calls for a 18.25 oz. cake mix all you have to do is add 5 Tbls. all purpose flour to the 15.25 oz. box mix to make up the difference, it works.

CarolZZZ

Sep 29, 2012

What did I do wrong??? I don't think the recipe was altered for the small cake box. The batter was supposed to be crumbly- it wasn't- just a thick batter-plus the icing was way too dry. The only part of the receipt that worked was the cream cheese center! Never again!!!!

whosyournana 96222 26

Feb 07, 2014

i used 1/2 c oj, chilled several hours, cut into bars, topped with Cool Whip and it id delish!! add 5 Tbls ap flour to 15.5oz boxes tocorrect ampount

Granny DMB

May 28, 2012

Most of the name brand cake mixes have changed the amount of mix. I have several recipes that call for an 18.25 oz. cake mix, but are no longer useful if the cake mixes no longer come in that amount.

Member 6583096

Apr 29, 2013

Anytime you have an older recipe that calls for a 18.25 oz. cake mix all you have to do is add 5 Tbls. all purpose flour to the 15.25 oz. box mix to make up the difference, it works.

MrFoodcom Editors

May 27, 2010

Thanks for catching that! We made the correction to the recipe, so you're good to go. Enjoy!

mollysue1956 35971 42

Jan 25, 2013

DJW Jan 25,2013 What is the correction on the cake mix boxes since the cake mix are 18.25.

Tamibooboo

May 23, 2010

Hi MFD, I've been making this recipe for years and my recipe is exactly the same except for the sugar. I don't add any sugar, but I do add 1/2 cup cooking oil. I make a glaze with powdered sugar and lemon juice and drizzle it over the bars when they are almost cool. Hope this helps.

MFD

Apr 26, 2010

This recipe sounds great, but it does not tell how much oil to use or how much cream cheese to use. Wish you would update the recipe or send me the amount of oil and cream cheese, I am guessing an 8 oz cream cheese, but have no idea how much oil to use. Thanks