These will also save time by using a box of cake mix topped with a lemony cheesecake topping and so super easy to make in minutes.
Lemon luscious little cookie bars that taste like a lemon pie with a cake cookie crust and start with a lemon cake mix and have a cheesecake filling!
This simplified recipe is done in minutes with little ease and not a lot of kitchen equipment.
There will be none left once they are cooled and you serve them these were gone in a flash!
Of course, if you want the plain lemon pie bars from scratch there is a bonus recipe for everyone that doesn't like using a cake mix!
Either recipe you make is an addicting lemon lover delight!
You may have remembered my Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Cake and Lemon Ricotta Cookies and Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie, always great desserts anyone who loves lemon raves about when I make them.
Remember, you can choose a quick and easy cake mix bar version (which is super-fast )or a homemade version that takes a little more time.
Oh and one more recipe at the end of the printed recipe card, an alternate homemade Lime Pie bar which is another favorite!
So what are you waiting for let's get baking these delicious lemon or lime gems!
I love doctored cake mix recipes and this is one I make often when I need something in a hurry.
Just check out these easy recipes by scrolling down to the printable card.
Doctored Cake Mix Bars
I have made delicious Sour Cream Coffee Cupcakes using a cake mix, cookies, and even a Scrumptious Banana Cake Mix Cake that all taste like they were from scratch!
Doctored Cake mixes fool everyone and I always get everyone raving about these desserts.
I love the tangy flavor from the lemon and the coconut on top just makes a nice addition to the popular lemon square cookie bars.
If you're not a coconut fan, it's just a garnish leave it off.
Mom always made a Lemon Pie for my brother Luke around the holidays.
During the year these lemon pie bars are a great quick substitute.
Ingredients You Will Need For Cake Mix Lemon Pie Cheesecake Bars
Lemon Pie Bars Cake Mix Version ( see printable recipe card for exact measurements):
- lemon cake mix
- egg
- butter softened
- cream cheese softened
- powdered sugar
- freshly grated lemon zest
- fresh lemon juice
- pure vanilla extract
- eggs
- Optional Garnish: coconut, more powdered sugar
Tips
- Don't overbake, these taste better a little gooey
- Always line with parchment paper to prevent sticking
- Cool completely before cutting into squares
- Use only freshly grated lemon and lemon juice
- You can also do these bars with orange, pineapple or yellow cake mixes just substitute the coordinating flavors and fruit juices
- Store in the refrigerator any leftovers up to 3 days
Tools You Will Need to Make These Lemon Pie Coconut Bars
- A hand mixer
- Citrus zester
- Bowls medium size
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Spatula
- Sharp knife for cutting squares
- Storage container
Pin for later Cake Mix Lemon Pie Coconut Bars
Fast Cake Mix Recipes
Using a cake mix for the crust is just the beginning of making these semi-homemade lemon pie cheesecake bars or lemon pie squares, they're over the top delicious and everyone loves any of them.
Perfect for picnics, parties, and when you get unexpected guests these are sure to please every lemon or lime lover.
Check out the three delicious recipes below and let me know how you like these recipes.
All of them are fabulous and the lime pie squares can be made with Key West lime juice for a tropical taste!
Cake Mix Lemon Pie Cheesecake Bars
Yield: 30
prep time: 10 Mcook time: 25 Mtotal time: 35 M
This is a bonus recipe card with three recipes for Lemon Pie Bars. The first one is done using a cake mix and quick and super fast but only semi-homemade. The second is an old-fashioned from a scratch version with everything from the crust to filling is homemade. The third is a lime version pie bar!
ingredients:
- Lemon Pie Cheesecake Bar Cake Mix Version:
- Crust:
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 1 egg
- 1 stick butter softened
- Mix all together in a bowl, press down into a 13 x 9 parchment paper-lined pan.
- Filling:
- 1 package 8 ounces of cream cheese softened
- 2 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure lemon or vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- Optional Garnish: 1/2 shredded coconut
- See Below Instructions for Old Fashioned from Scratch Lemon or Lime Pie Bar Recipe
instructions:
How to cook Cake Mix Lemon Pie Cheesecake Bars
- For the Cake Mix Lemon Cheesecake Pie Bar Baking Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat the filling in a bowl with an electric hand mixer until it's well blended
- around 4 minutes.
- Pour over crust.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes and check the middle to see if it's set and not shakey.
- If bars still aren't completed bake 5 more minutes. Cool completely before cutting, garnish with coconut if using and sprinkle tops with powdered sugar if desired.
- Old Fashioned Lemon Bars Instructions:
- Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
- Pinch salt
- 2 sticks butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
- Filling:
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 cup of coconut for topping
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees lightly greased a 9 by 13 by 2-inch pan.
- Make the crust by combining the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
- Cut in the butter to make a crumbly mixture.
- Press the mixture into the prepared pan. You can use more powdered sugar to press down in the pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Make filling next.
- In another bowl, mix the eggs, granulated sugar, flour, and lemon juice sprinkle grated coconut on top.
- Pour this over the baked crust and bake for 25 minutes longer.
- Remove from oven cool completely.
- Top with coconut and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Alternate Recipe for Lime Coconut Squares
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for decorating
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
- 4 large eggs
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup fresh lime juice or Key West Lime Juice
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 drops green food coloring optional for color
- Dough:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.
- Stir in 2 cups of flour, ginger, 1/2 cup of coconut and lime zest. Mix until well combined.
- Press dough into baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until dough is light brown in middle and browned along edges. Set aside.
- Filling:
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar. Stir in lime juice until blended.
- Stir in the 1/4 cup flour and the baking powder. Add 2 drops of green food color.
- Spread 1/4 cup of shredded coconut over baked crust. Pour lime mixture over top and bake for 20-25 minutes or until set and firm.
- Cool completely before cutting.
- Dust with powdered sugar and cut into pie squares.
Pin for later Cake Mix Lemon Pie Coconut Bars
More Recipes To Try:
Dark Chocolate Cake Mix Cake
Cake Mix Red Velvet Cake
Cake Mix Carrot Cake Taste Like Scratch
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2020.
I love lemon bars and I really love the coconut in these!
ReplyDeleteOne of the perfect combinations in life, and yes, I would help them disappear fast.
ReplyDeleteLemon and coconut is a lovely combination. Your bars look delicious
ReplyDeleteThese pie bars look so good I'm really loving the flakiness of the cookie crust! Delish!
ReplyDeleteThis is a hearty and flavorsome ..yummy coconut Lemon Pie .. I can't wait to try..Thank you for sharing your recipe...
ReplyDeleteCoconut & lemon! What a terrific combo. I'm drooling here. Lucky me, wearing the napkin before enterng here. haha.... Hope you're having a good time!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Kristy
wow, I too love lemon squares and these lemony babes looks stunning - bright and tasty ... I can see why there is none left
ReplyDeleteLemon bars are so scrumptiously summer - the coconut makes itmore so. Luscious.
ReplyDeleteThis must be a very beautiful combo. I love coconut and lemon in desserts. This will really cheer me up.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend just sent me her favorite recipe for lemon cream cheese bars, but now I'm torn ... I sure do love coconut! I guess I'll just have to make both and do a comparison. Good thing it's not bikini season yet in Seattle! :)
ReplyDeleteYUM! Lemon bars are always a favorite in my family...love the addition of coconut. Another one for the must try file!
ReplyDeleteFresh and delicious! Great pictures ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou had me at buttery crust. Now add the lemon and coconut and you have a winner.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
These look luscious and have two of my favorite flavors! Love 'em.
ReplyDeleteI think the crust would be my favorite part...yummy! I am a nut for a buttery crust and you have it down. I sure wish we lived closer to each other. You would never be rid of me, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteHey Claudia, these look super yummy. I love lemon bars, and I can imagine that the coconut only brings it up a notch!
ReplyDeleteButter, lemon and coconut...how could I resist;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your scrumptious lemon bars.
Flavourful wishes, Claudia
These look delicious! I love anything lemon!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures of the pie squares are beautiful, make me want to jump in and just eat them! :)
ReplyDeleteThese look wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteHey Claudia, I haven't had lemon squares in forever and yours bring a smile to my face. The coconut add is a nice twist. Jeez, thinking about it, I haven't had them since I was a kid, so it really has been forever!!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love lemon bars. These look absolutely delicious. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletethese look great and I don't think they'd last too long around our house. I'm almost afraid to let Alan see these.
ReplyDeleteOhhh....those look so good. They're dangerous to have around as I won't be able to resist them!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great combination - lemon and coconut. The only problem is I would not be able to control myself from eating the entire pan. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother one of your incredible desserts! Simply delicious
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have knack with desserts. Yum
ReplyDeleteWill be dangerous for me. I can finish everything.
ReplyDeleteMy son's girlfriend makes the most amazing lemon bars. I know she'll love this recipe!
ReplyDeleteThese look fabulous - and what great photos! No wonder you are the new Queen of Foodgawker. ; )
ReplyDeleteThose look sooooo good. I love lemon squares. Usually, my sister or mother makes them around Christmas time. Now you've given me an excuse to make them for a summer dessert. YAY!
ReplyDeleteThese look like just the right amount of everything. Sometimes lemon pie can just be 'so much.' The addition of the coconut sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty, Claudia. I like that they're not too thick - just the right amount of crust in relation to filling.
ReplyDeletelooks scrumptious i love coconut and lemon. your blog has lot of inspiration. keep writing and sharing
ReplyDeleteSo yummy! I love a good lemon pie, and coconut is a favourite too. So this is a perfect dessert for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat dessert, yum!!! We love lemon flavored desserts and I will be making it for sure! My issue of "Taste of Home" came in the mail today and I saw your recipe on page 77. Congratulations, good job! I will be making that too when strawberries are ripe here. It looks really delicious. Way to go, Claudia!!!
ReplyDeleteYour awesome post was featured on Full Plate Thursday,476 this week and thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hope you are having a great week and looking forward to seeing you again soon!
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen