Lemon Creme Brulee Bars

5 from 17 votes

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If you like creme brulee, you’ll love these Lemon Creme Brulee Bars! They are so easy to make- you will want to make them again and again!

Lemon Creme Brulee Bars stacked on top of each other all on a white plate

Lemon Creme Brulee Bars | Pure Addiction

These lemon creme brulee bars are ridiculous. And so devilishly easy that you will be tempted to make these time and time again. I first came up with this recipe after having an awful dessert that was this exact concept but tasted so royally disgusting that I had a hard time shelling out the seven bucks it cost. That night I’d vow to make it better. So I did. I first tested them on a baby shower crowd and they went like hotcakes. Then I made them for my sister-in-law’s birthday because she’s as much of a lemon freak as I am. Of course, she liked them too. Then I ‘tested’ them again and ate half the pan. Then I swore the recipe off because I knew if I’d make them AGAIN, I’d eat the.entire.thing.

So, I did actually forgot about them until a few days ago when I had a few lemons loitering around my crisper drawers and found a package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese hiding behind ‘x’ pounds of butter. The perfect storm. So I made them again. This time with you all in mind! {You’re welcome.} Take a peek at the step-by-step photos and experience the beauty that is this dessert.

Main Ingredients Needed

Can you believe that these amazing Lemon Creme Brulee Bars only take 9 ingredients to make? Yeah that is downright sinful. Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Butter – this is used to hold the crust together. Be sure to plan ahead and use softened butter (not melted).
  • Sugar – to sweeten the crust.
  • Flour – to fill out the crust.
  • Vanilla – to flavor.
  • Cream Cheese – the main ingredient for the lemon cheesecake filling!
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk – I used one whole can of this stuff. Not only does it sweeten but it also makes the filling a bit runnier.
  • Egg – to add structure and richness.
  • Lemon Juice + Zest – the juice helps the cheesecake set while also providing flavor along with the zest.
  • Fine Granulated Sugar – this is used for brulee-ing these bars!
pouring raw sugar over Lemon Creme Brulee Bars

How to Make Lemon Creme Brulee Bars

For full details on how to make Lemon Creme Brulee Bars, see the recipe card down below 🙂

1. Preheat + Prep

Preheat oven. Line an 8×8 glass dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Make the Crust

In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla until dough forms. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish. Set aside. (You’re basically making a quick shortbread).

3. Make Lemon Cheesecake Filling

In another bowl, whip cream cheese. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Scrape sides and mix again. Pour in the egg, lemon zest, and juice. Mix until the mixture starts to thicken. Scrape sides and mix again briefly. Pour overtop cookie bottom and smooth the top.

4. Bake + Chill

Bake until cheesecake is set completely. Cool, then refrigerate. Cut into 16 squares and separate.

5. Sprinkle with Sugar + Torch

Sprinkle the tops of each square with 1 teaspoon of sugar and spread around with a finger to evenly distribute the sugar. Torch the tops until the sugar melts and turns an amber color. {If you don’t have a torch, place it under the broiler}. Return squares to fridge until ready to serve.

More Lemon Recipes to Try!

If you liked these lemon creme brulee bars, check out these related recipes 🙂

Lemon Creme Brulee Bars stacked on a white plate

Throw these Lemon Creme Brulee Bars onto a serving platter and voila! A perfect dessert everyone will love! Sweet and tart, similar to key lime pie, but a million times better!

Enjoy! 🙂

Lemon Cheesecake Creme Brulee Bars
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5 from 17 votes

Lemon Creme Brulee Bars

If you like creme brulee, you'll love these Lemon Creme Brulee Bars! They are so easy to make- you will want to make them again and again!
servings 16 squares
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 glass dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In large bowl, combine butter, sugar, flour and vanilla until dough forms. Press evenly into the bottom of prepared dish. Set aside.
    Cookie dough in the bottom of a baking dish
  • In another bowl, whip cream cheese. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Scrape sides and mix again. Pour in egg, lemon zest and juice. Mix until mixture starts to thicken, 20-30 seconds. Scrape sides and mix again briefly. Pour overtop cookie bottom and smooth the top.
    Lemon filling on cookie dough
  • Bake 20-25 minutes or until cheesecake is set completely. Cool, then refrigerate. Cut into 16 squares and separate.
    Lemon Cheesecake Creme Brulee Bars
  • Sprinkle the tops of each square with 1 teaspoon of sugar and spread around with finger to evenly distribute sugar.
    Lemon Cheesecake Creme Brulee Bars
  • Torch the tops until the sugar melts and turns an amber color. {If you don't have a torch, place under the broiler}. Return squares to fridge until ready to serve.
    Torching Lemon Cheesecake Creme Brulee Bars

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 130mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Lemon Creme Brulee Bars

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105 Responses
  1. Heidi

    These bars look very delicious!! I’m really gonna try them. But I have a question, I’m from the Netherlands and I would like to know how much fat contains your Philadelphia cream cheese? So I can try to find right cream cheese here?

  2. Janice

    These ARE evil. And, you are evil. Obviously you peeked into my pantry because I have all of this stuff just sitting there begging, as well as a lemon tree that’s producing faster than I can use them. I am so making these. Right away. Thanks!

  3. Jessica @Portuguese girl cooks

    These look soooo good! Just found the perfect use for the meyer lemons I have, and bonus I get to use my torch!

  4. Jessica@MakingHomeSweeter

    I don’t know why I always feel the need to sing some opera-like tune when I see a new post from you in my blog list. AMAZING Lauren, these look amazing.

  5. Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)

    Well my husband keeps raving about your lemon crinkle cookies that I made on the weekend … so I suppose I will have to make these for him too!

  6. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    you’re the lemon queen. These look awesome & I see those lemon crinkle cookies of yours EVERYWHERE on Pinterest….they get me every time 🙂

  7. Anna

    My mom loves lemon desserts. I would like to surprise her with these magnificent bars. Will store bought lemon zest powder work just fine? Thanks for sharing…

  8. Lauren @ What Lauren Likes

    to bad I am in class right now, instead of my kitchen….cause then I would totally be making these right now 😀

  9. Kathryn

    I’ve already expressed my opinion on these on twitter but I want to record it here for posterity. I love the fact that it’s a little shortbread base, that always works so well with lemon and that crunchy sugar topping just puts it over the edge!

  10. Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids

    Oh, my. These look fantastic. And, as luck would have it, I was just wondering what to do with all of my extra cream cheese.

  11. natalie (the sweets life)

    too funny–i JUST made creme brulee cheesecake (full-sized and not lemon) this weekend. It was a huge hit–I can’t wait to post it 🙂 Next time I’m adding lemon-great idea!

  12. Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables

    I share your love for lemon desserts, these look great. I’m thinking I would love to add some blueberries in as well! 🙂

  13. Julie @ Table for Two

    You’re so talented. I would never had thought of doing this!! Gosh, this is just amazing. I definitely will have to try this — they’re so pretty and cute (i love to eat cute things! haha)..awesome, Lauren!!

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