Lemon Bars Using Cake Mix: The Simplest Recipe Ever Made

Okay, here’s my blog post about making lemon bars with lemon cake mix, written from my personal experience:

So, I’ve been craving lemon bars lately. Like, really craving them. But I also didn’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. I’m all about shortcuts, you know? Then I thought, “Hey, what about using a cake mix?” And it totally worked!

First, I grabbed a box of lemon cake mix. Any brand will do, I just picked up what was on sale. Then, I dumped the mix into a big bowl.

The Crust

• I added one stick of melted butter (that’s 1/2 cup for those of you who measure everything).
• Make sure the butter isn’t too hot to mix, I learned it the hard way, don’t be like me.
• I mixed it all up with a fork until it looked like coarse crumbs. It was kinda messy, but that’s part of the fun, right?
• Next, I pressed the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan. I just used my fingers to make sure it was evenly spread and packed down tight.
• Remember, you can just use parchment paper on the pan, it will be more easily to clean.

The Filling

• In the same bowl (because who needs extra dishes?), I cracked in four large eggs.
• Then I poured in a can of sweetened condensed milk. The whole can!
• Now for the lemony goodness: I squeezed the juice of about three lemons. I like things super tart, so I might have used a little extra. You do you!
• I also zested one of the lemons and tossed that in for extra flavor.
• I whisked everything together until it was nice and smooth.

Then, I carefully poured the filling over the crust. It looked so pretty and yellow!

I popped the pan into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and baked it for about 25-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are golden brown and the center is mostly set. It might still jiggle a little, but that’s okay.

The hardest part? Letting it cool completely! I stuck it in the fridge for a couple of hours to firm up. I always do that.

Finally, I cut the bars into squares and dusted them with powdered sugar. Because everything’s better with powdered sugar, am I right?

And that’s it! Super easy lemon bars, thanks to a little help from a cake mix. They were tangy, sweet, and totally hit the spot. Definitely making these again!