Easy Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

These easy lemon bars have a sweet sugar cookie crust topped with a tangy lemon cheesecake filling and then topped with more sugar cookie crumble. The perfect balance of sweet and tangy. These lemon bars were everything I could have dreamed of and then some on my birthday. I don’t need a present. I need sweet sugar cookie crust, topped with silky smooth lemon cheesecake filling, and then more soft sugar cookie crumbled on top.

Ingredients:

Sugar cookie crust:

• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Cup butter at room temperature
• 2 Cups all purpose flour
• Lemon cheesecake:
• 8 Ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/4 Cup lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons lemon zest divided
• 1/2 Cup sugar

Instructions:

For the bars:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking dish with foil and spray liberally with non stick cooking spray.
3. In bowl of stand mixer using paddle attachment, or large bowl with hand mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed for 2 minutes.
4. Turn mixer to low and slowly add the flour (1/2 cup at a time) and mix just until dough comes together.
5. Press half of the dough into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
6. Cool completely before filling.
7. Store remaining sugar cookie dough in a bowl in the refrigerator until ready to use.

For the Filling:

1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, or medium bowl with a hand mixer beat together the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp. of the lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour filling over cooled crust.
3. Top filling with the remaining sugar cookie dough by simply crumbling it evenly over the top.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until cookie crumble is light golden in color.
5. Top with remaining lemon zest as desired.