3-Ingredient Lemon Bars

3-Ingredient Lemon Bars - Tart lemon pie filling, sweet yellow cake mix, and butter; the only ingredients you’ll need for this sweet and simple lemon treat! 

This post may include affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.

Simple, sweet, and full of lemon flavor, these 3-ingredient lemon bars are unbelievably delicious and extremely simple to make!

With only a handful of ingredients, you’ll have an amazing and effortless dessert fit for any occasion. 

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

The sweet mixture of yellow cake mix, tart lemon pie filling, and butter creates the impeccable lemon dessert bars that are fresh, citrusy, and deliciously gooey.

And with only 3 ingredients, can it get any better?

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

Before you get started, make sure you have the following ingredients:

• Yellow cake mix
• Salted butter
• Lemon pie filling

HOW TO MAKE 3-INGREDIENT LEMON SQUARES

Then, preheat your oven to 350ºF, prepare your baking dish and follow the steps below!

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix and butter (the consistency will be crumbly). Reserve ½ cup of mixture for the topping and set it aside.
2. Press the remainder of the mixture in your prepared baking dish. 
3. Spread lemon pie filling over top of crust. 
4. Sprinkle the ½ cup of crust mixture over the lemon pie filling. 

Now, bake the bars for 48-50 minutes or until the top begins to brown. Then, allow the pan of bars to cool before cutting and serving.

TIPS FOR MAKING 3-INGREDIENT LEMON BARS

• Sprinkle some powdered sugar to the top of your lemon bars for extra sweetness!
• For even more lemon flavor, add some lemon zest on top of your lemon bars. 
• To make lemon frosting that you can add to your lemon bars, mix lemon juice and white frosting!

DO I HAVE TO USE YELLOW CAKE MIX TO MAKE THE LEMON BARS?

If you want your bars to have a more airy texture, use angel food cake in place of yellow cake mix. The angel food cake gives the lemon bars a more fluffy and light consistency.

CAN YOU MAKE THESE LEMON BARS AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes! To make these bars ahead of time, just follow the recipe directions and then store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve! These bars taste amazing cold or at room temperature.

STORAGE

These lemon bars are good at room temperature for about 5-6 hours and then can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS

To freeze your lemon bars, wrap the individual bars in wax paper and store in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for 2-3 months. Then, let thaw before serving.

MORE LEMON DESSERT RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE

• Old-Fashioned Lemon Icebox Cake
• Lemon Pocket Cake
• Easy Lemon Cake Roll
• Lemon Lush Dessert
• No Bake Lemon Pie
• Lemon Jello Cake