Gooey Lemon Bars Recipe

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Published: February 7, 2012Updated: March 18, 2021Author: Camille Beckstrand
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Gooey Lemon Bars Recipe
Serves: 16 people

Gooey Lemon Bars Recipe

They are my favorite lemon bar ever- I think it’s the lemon frosting on top.  If you are a lemon-lover like myself, you have to give these a try!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
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Ingredients

Cake Layer:

  • 1 box lemon cake mix
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 egg slightly beaten

Middle Layer/Frosting:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons butter softened
  • lemon juice
  • 3-5 drops yellow food coloring
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Combine all of the ingredients for the cake layer in a mixing bowl. Press down in a 9x13-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  • In a large bowl combine powdered sugar and butter.
  • Add enough lemon juice to form the consistency of a thick frosting.
  • Beat in cream cheese and yellow food coloring until smooth.
  • Set aside 1 cup of frosting to spread on top after baking (be sure to not skip this step!).
  • Add eggs to remaining frosting mixture and beat until fluffy.
  • Spread on top of cake mix in the pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until barely golden brown.
  • Let cool completely and then spread reserved frosting mixture on top and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 324 kcal · Carbohydrates: 23 g · Protein: 3 g · Fat: 14 g · Saturated Fat: 9 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 69 mg · Sodium: 333 mg · Potassium: 34 mg · Sugar: 34 g · Vitamin A: 500 IU · Calcium: 84 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Recipe Details

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Gooey Lemon Bars from SixSistersStuff.com
I am hands-down a chocolate dessert lover, but I have a special place in my heart for all things lemon. 🙂  My mom has been making these lemon bars for a long time and she always gets requests to bring them to parties or showers. They are my favorite lemon bar ever- I think it’s the lemon frosting on top.  If you are a lemon-lover like myself, you have to give these a try!

Related recipe: love lemon bars? Then you’ll love our Lemon Bar Cookie Cups!

Supplies needed for this recipe:

Delicious Lemon Bars from SixSistersStuff.com
Looking for more delicious treats?
Here are a few of our favorites:
S’mores Pizza
Orange Crush Cupcakes
Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
Oatmeal Creme Pies
Funfetti Cookie Cups

Camille Signature
Gooey Lemon Bars from SixSistersStuff.com. These are made with a cake mix and are absolutely amazing!

 We’re so excited to announce that our 4th cookbook is available for SALE!!!
Sweets and Treats with Six Sisters’ Stuff
This cookbook is all our very favorite recipes: DESSERTS!
Get it HERE.

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  1. Becki Jacobs says:
    February 7, 2012
    These sound awesome - I am a huge lemon fan and I love the simplicity of this dessert!
    Reply
  2. Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says:
    February 7, 2012
    Lemon bars are my eldest daughter's favorite treat - great recipe - thanks!
    mary x
    Reply
  3. augcott says:
    February 7, 2012
    I am soooo making these! I just ? anything lemon!!!
    Thanks for sharing!
    :-D
    Reply
  4. Sheila says:
    February 7, 2012
    I really like chocolate, but I love lemon.
    Reply
  5. Liesl says:
    February 7, 2012
    My sister and little nephew are huge lemon fans, and I quite enjoy it too, so, these look delish...I think I'll have to try these! Thanks for the recipe!

    Liesl :)
    Reply
  6. Brooke says:
    February 9, 2012
    I am ridiculously excited to try this! I tried some lemon bars once at a party and I could tell by the flavor that they had lemon cake mix in them but I have not found a recipe to compare with that one... yet. I'm hoping this is it!
    Reply
  7. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says:
    February 9, 2012
    I love this! We just posted our very first Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party and we would LOVE for you to stop by and link this up! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link.html
    Reply
  8. Kristen Turner says:
    February 10, 2012
    I love lemon bars. Brings back memories from my childhood :)
    Reply
  10. Alison @ Oopsey Daisy says:
    February 13, 2012
    I've never seen a gooey version!! How delicious!
    Reply
  11. Stacy T says:
    March 22, 2012
    Just made these and took them to small group and they were a hit! Will be making again
    Reply
  12. k8mcginnis says:
    May 7, 2012
    These were delicious and pretty easy to make! Came out like a LEMON LAVA CAKE. Yummm!
    Reply
  13. Savannah says:
    May 25, 2013
    Hi, Love the recipe. I'm wondering how to tell when it is done in the middle?
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      June 1, 2013
      Just watch them closely. We cook ours in a glass pan so we can tell what the bottom crust is doing. You don't want it to get too brown or they are dry. Cook on the low end of the cooking time and keep checking til light golden. They are good gooey!!
      Reply
  14. Michele Seidel says:
    June 16, 2013
    Looks like a great recipe as I am a huge lemon fan. Is the middle supposed to get brown on top or just he crust? Is that the part that is gooey like meringue?
    Reply
    • Cyd says:
      June 17, 2013
      The bottom layer is kind of a soft crust. Then the middle layer is gooey lemon. Then when cooled add the frosting. It doesn't really get brown when you cook it. Just follow the instructions and check on it periodically when it's almost done cooking. So yummy!
      Reply
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