Two Ingredient Lemon Cake Bars are light, moist, sweet, and bright with a refreshing lemon flavor. They are soft, fluffy, and incredibly easy to make with only two simple ingredients.
Looking for a classic lemon bar recipe instead? Try these Lemon Bars.
What We Love
- This two ingredient lemon cake bars recipe is incredibly simple and beginner-friendly.
- It is a quick dessert you can prepare when you need something sweet without a complicated ingredient list.
- You only need lemon pie filling and angel food cake mix, unless you decide to add optional toppings or mix-ins.
- The bars are easy to customize, making them a fun base recipe for lemon dessert lovers.
What You Need for Lemon Cake Bars
These easy lemon cake bars require only two ingredients, which is one of the best things about this recipe. It may sound almost too simple, but the combination really does work. The lemon pie filling adds sweetness, tang, moisture, and bright citrus flavor, while the angel food cake mix gives the bars their soft, airy texture.
This is the kind of dessert recipe that is useful to keep in your back pocket. If you have a can of lemon pie filling and a box of angel food cake mix in the pantry, you can make a sweet lemon dessert with very little effort. There is no need to prepare a crust, separate eggs, or follow a long list of steps. Just mix, spread, bake, and enjoy.
Lemon pie filling – You can use homemade lemon pie filling if you prefer, but canned lemon pie filling keeps this recipe fast and convenient.
Angel food cake mix – Use the dry cake mix only. It should be the “just add water” style, but do not add water, eggs, oil, or any other ingredients. The lemon pie filling is all the moisture this recipe needs.
Once baked, these bars have a texture similar to lemon angel food cake. They are fluffy and tender, with a sweet lemon flavor that makes them perfect for a casual dessert, potluck, spring gathering, summer treat, or simple family snack. They are not dense like traditional lemon bars, but they still bring that bright lemon taste in a lighter cake-style form.
Can I Add To These Lemon Cake Bars?
- Add fresh lemon zest to the batter for extra citrus flavor.
- Sprinkle lemon zest over the finished bars for a fresh, colorful topping.
- Dust the cooled bars with powdered sugar before serving.
- Use an additional can of lemon pie filling if you want a softer, more lemon-forward dessert.
- Arrange thin fresh lemon slices on top before baking for a decorative finish.
These lemon cake bars are delicious as written, but they are also easy to make your own. If you like a stronger lemon flavor, lemon zest is a simple way to boost the citrus without changing the basic recipe. If you prefer a prettier presentation, powdered sugar gives the bars a classic dessert look. For a softer, more filling-heavy version, an extra can of lemon pie filling can make the bars feel closer to a traditional lemon bar while still keeping the recipe very easy.
However you serve them, let the bars cool before slicing so they hold their shape better. They can be cut into squares for a simple dessert tray or served with coffee, tea, or a cold drink. The light texture makes them especially nice when you want something sweet but not overly heavy.
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Recipe for Two Ingredient Lemon Bars
Lemon Cake Bars – Two Ingredient
Ingredients
- 22 ounces lemon pie filling
- 1 box angel food cake mix Use the dry “just add water” cake mix, but do not add water, eggs, oil, or any other ingredients.
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
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Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
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In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the lemon pie filling and dry angel food cake mix until the batter is smooth and no large lumps remain.
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Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula.
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Bake for 28 to 35 minutes, or until the top is slightly golden and the bars are set.
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Cool before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Nutrition Facts
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Carbohydrates: 49g
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Protein: 2g
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Fat: 0.4g
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Sugar: 38g
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Sodium: 439mg