These Creamy Lemon Squares taste just like a lemon cheesecake – so creamy and delicious!
This post brought to you by PHILADELPHIA cream cheese . All opinions are 100% mine.
Obviously one of my favorite things about the holidays is the food. It seems like during this particular time of year, there are so many great recipes to be tried that set my tastebuds a-tingling! There are so many amazing ingredients that are used specifically for the holiday season and then there are those that are used year-round  – like PHILADELPHIA cream cheese. PHILADELPHIA is great for holiday entertaining AND year-round enjoyment!
Sam’s Club and Kraft have joined forces to bring you meal solutions for the entire week. Breakfast to dinner and everything in between. I was checking out all the yummy recipes when I stumbled across the Creamy Lemon Squares. Now I LOVE anything lemon and lemon bars are a personal favorite of mine. Why had I never thought ot making them even better with cream cheese?
Creamy Lemon Squares
Ingredients
- 20 NILLA Wafers finely crushed
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup butter cold
- 8 oz PHILADELPHIA cream cheese 1 package, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp flour
- 3 tbsp lemon zest divided
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Line an 8x8 pan with foil.
- Mix first 3 ingredients in medium bowl.
- Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the crumbs onto the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with mixer until well blended. Add eggs one at a time and 2 Tbsp. flour; mix well.
- Blend in 1 Tbsp. zest, juice and baking powder; pour over crust.
- Bake for 25 to 28 min. or until center is set. Let cool completely then refrigerate for 2 hours. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and remaining zest before serving.
Nutrition
Some of my favorite PHILADELPHIA cream cheese recipes are my Triple Threat Chocolate Cheesecake, Pull-Apart Crescent Veggie Christmas Tree, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Dip and my Nana’s To-Die-For Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
PHILADELPHIA cream cheese is one of the most versatile ingredients I can think of. It works equally well in both savory and sweet applicatoins and just magically makes every more creamy and delicious when used. Can’t go wrong with PHILADELPHIA cream cheese!
What’s your favorite recipe that calls for Philadelphia cream cheese? Here are some of mine:
Cherry Cheesecake “Magic” Ice Cream
Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes
Spicy Pulled Pork Popper Sandwich
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Amanda says
Lemon squares are my husband’s favorite. Yum!
SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime says
I pinned this 🙂
Desperate Craftwives says
Well, there goes my diet!! Those lemon squares look amazing!
Visiting from Shine On Fridays!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh just blame me 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Kim of Mo'Betta says
I have a big bowl of Meyer Lemons just calling out to be made into lemon squares 🙂 Visiting from Homemaker on a Dime.
Jackie Kocurek says
I love lemon! Here is a recipe for lemon bars – sounds similar to yours! http://rediscovermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/lemon-bars.html
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Your recipe looks delicious! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Megan says
This looks delicious. I love lemon squares but have never actually made them. I’m going to have to give this recipe a whirl. Have a great weekend.
Theresa says
I love lemon bars & will have to try your recipe. Looks so yummy! Visiting from DearCreatives.com Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
YUM – I love lemon squares. And these look so thick and creamy. LOVE! Thanks for linking up at What’s in Your Kitchen Wednesday!
angi@schneiderpeeps says
I love lemon bars. We had a great crop of Meyer Lemons this year and so I have lots of juice in the freezer. I think I’ll make these tonight. I came over from Southern Lovely. Had fun looking around.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh I hope you’re enjoying them this very minute 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Spice Gals (Becky) says
These are some of the most tasty looking lemon bars I’ve ever seen! I seriously am going to have to try them. New follower of your page. Love what you’ve got going 🙂
-Becky (Sugar-n-Spice Gals)
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Becky – they are delicious! Have a great week!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
These look so good. I have been on a lemon kick lately. Would be great to bring to a pot luck for dessert. Thanks for sharing!
Janet @ Frugal & Focused says
We love lemon in this house and those look amazing!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
These look delicious!!! I love to use cream cheese in cheesecakes too!
Paula-Riverton Housewives says
These look delicious! We’d love for you to link this recipe up at our party! http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2013/01/riverton-housewives-round-up-46.html