Summer is just around the corner! I don’t know about you, but I am ready. One of our families favorite desserts for summertime are these delicious, easy-to-make Lemon Bars. Every time I serve them I get requests for the recipe and people tell me they don’t usually like lemon bars, but they loved mine. (I did figure that out after they ate three =)

And just in case you ask, here are a few of our other family favorite recipes.

Bird Nest Treats – a fun spring/summer snack for kids]
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream – Our go-to 3 ingredient recipe that costs $0.40 a serving
Mac & Cheese Pies – yep, they are as good as they sound!

Lemon Bars Recipe

Here is how I make our family favorite: Summertime Lemon Bars.

Make the Vanilla Wafer Crust

Blend together 30 vanilla wafers, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup butter in a blender.

Press crust into a foil lined 9×9 pan. You don’t have to use foil. If you are serving out of the pan just skip the foil. But the foil lifts out so you have pretty looking slices

Bake the filling for 15 minutes at 350. Meanwhile start making the filling.

Make the Lemon Bar Filling

Zest 3 medium lemons (in case you’ve never done that, it’s super easy. Just use a grater and grate or “zest” the washed lemon into a bowl. You want to take off most of the yellow part of the skin)

Now cut your lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl to use in the crust. (You are smelling the lemony goodness now!)

Now mix together the crust. I use the blender because it already need to be washed anyway, but you can use whatever you like. Mix together: 8oz cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 2 TAB flour, half of the lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/4 teas baking powder. Pour over crust.

Bake Lemon Bars

Bake the lemon bars at 350 F for 25-28 minutes or until set. Dust with powdered sugar and remaining lemon zest. Cool completely. These can be served right away, but my family likes them best chilled. I like to chill it 2 hours or overnight. When you are ready to cut just lift out the foil and cut.