This will probably a huge shock to exactly no one, but I love cooking. I was almost disappointed by how easy this recipe was. There’s barely any cooking to be done. In fact, if you want to send a less-than-recipe-savvy man into the kitchen, he’ll probably still be able to whip these up pretty handily himself.
Oh, and in case you needed just ONE more reason to make these already fabulous treats, each lemon bar is only 168 calories. Set, and spike.
Two Ingredient Lemon Bars
Makes about 15 bars
1 box angel food cake mix (must be the 1-step kind)
22 ounces lemon pie filling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix and pie filling together in a large mixing bowl.
Spread mixture into greased 9×13 baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden. Expect for these to be more of a cakey texture than other lemon bars.
Top with powdered sugar, (but only if you don’t have any huge qualms with this recipe becoming a THREE ingredient endeavor.)
- 1 box angel food cake mix (must be the 1-step kind)
- 22 ounces lemon pie filling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix and pie filling together in a large mixing bowl.
- Spread mixture into a greased, 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden. Expect for these to be more of a cakey texture than other lemon bars.
- Top with powdered sugar.
Modified from Practically Living.
{ 126 comments… read them below or add one }
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Hi, I made this with the 1 step box of angel food cake, and 2 jars (10.5 oz) Lemon Curd, and 1/4 cup of water.
Used a whisk, and popped it in for 20 minutes on 350. Checked it a few times. Nice and browned, gonna cut into it soon.
Please remember that even though it’s out of a box, angel food cake still collapses really fast when disturbed or checked over and over again, however I think I prefer this recipe this way after tinkering with it.
Nice tips, thanks.
Ha Ha I just did the same thing. My oven may run a little hotter since they cooked a little faster. Waiting for them to cool…..
Ha Ha I just did the same thing. I think 20 minutes is good. With 30 mine are a little dark. Waiting for hem to cool…..
So it has risen over the pan… will I end up with a flop? I used a 1 step cake mix. ????
Mine is over the pan too.
I just pulled this out of the oven and even my “lemon-bar loving” husband (who was NOT excited about me messing with his lemon bars) was amazed…he couldn’t get over how delicious they looked and he’s standing over the pan just waiting to be able to cut into them.
That’s great!
Looks very good, and sounds easy to make. So do you grease the pan or not? The recipe states you do, but reading the comments, some have said don’t grease the pan.
I did and it worked for me!
Thanks for responding. In the oven now, didn’t grease the pan so I hope it works out.
Can you use Jello lemon pudding/pie filling mix. I could not find canned lemon pie filling. I am going to make the pudding as directed and then mix it with the cake mix and back as you directed. I hope it turns out.
Yep!
I used 1-step angel food cake mix and the 15.75 ounce can of lemon pie filling – i added 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to make up for not having a 22 ounce can of pie filling. Turned out perfectly! Great recipe, thanks!
Great! You’re welcome.
How long do they last? And how should I store them?
Do these need to be refrigerated?
Nope!
Made these. They are the easiest to make and awesomely good!
definitely make these in a jelly roll size pan, otherwise it will rise to the top of 9×13 and looks like cake, rather than bars..
The cake mix is it the one that says just add wster but actually you don’t right
Yep!
going in the oven now. I too only found the 15.75 oz can of pie filling, so I hope this works. Will let you know.
My coworker brought these in today for a pot luck. They are so good. Addicting really. I can’t wait to make them at home for my family.
Like Pat mine flopped but if I would have read a bit further I would have gotten one step cake mix. I didn’t realize there was such a thing. Either way they are very good.
I made these tonight – I was making two batches, so my list included having to get 4 cans of lemon pie filling because the cans were each 15.75 ounces. Then I bought two boxes of Angel Food Cake. Just so I am clear on this… the angel food mix goes in the bowl and then 22 ounces of pie filling right? I didn’t need to add the water that was called for on the back of the angel food mix box? lol Cause I didn’t, so not sure if mine are what they are supposed to be. I am not normally a baker so when I am reading in the comments about getting the 1 step and 2 step boxes – well you lost me. :)
Some other recipes I have found only call for a can/15 ounces of lemon pie filling. But you reference 22 ounces with 1 can. Did I follow yours correctly, or did I put too much in when I followed the 22 ounces?
I am sure I am over thinking this – but after seeing different recipes, people commenting on their failing and not seeing where they might have gone wrong – I am just worried for my office potluck tomorrow. LOL, might have to run to the store to find some vanilla or lemon frosting to top these off with.
Mine are very dense and sponge like.
Hope it turned out well! Yes, You do not need to add the water the box mix calls for.
Made these last night. SUCCESS! They were perfection!
Great! Thanks Beth.
I just made these according to the directions and they “flopped”…literally flopped! They came out of the oven puffed up and the more minutes that went by, they whole thing just sunk “flat as a pancake”! I am so disappointed! I checked the dates on the box and can and they are all current? I don’t know what the heck happened? They are sorta edible, but I wouldn’t serve them to anyone.
Sorry to hear that. Did you use 1-step cake mix?
OMG! These bars are so good and sooo easy to make! My husbands new favorite :) Want to try with another filling too.
Could you use other flavor pie fillings?
Absolutely!
I have made this with cherry pie filling and also another time with crushed pineapple (don’t drain!). I often put the batter into a cupcake tin with paper liners. Makes great individual servings.
Great ideas, thank you!
I just made these. I dont think they turned out like yours. They are good, but SWEET!! I think I may have over beat the mix. They are too fluffy!! But they are good!
Just made these! So good!!!!
My family has made these for years – but we spread the batter in a jelly roll pan (thinner bars) and frost with cream cheese frosting. Delicious!
Great ideas! Thanks.
Just curious how you came up with the calories for each bar? I want to make sure mine are the same. I only found one can of lemon pie filling and it has a lot of calories!… and the angel food cake has about 140 per serving by itself….
I just went by the caloric content of the cake mix and the pie filling. There is probably some variance among brands.
These are amazIng!!! Just pulled them out of the oven!
That’s great to hear! Thank you.
They taste yummy…just make sure you make in a deep enough pan. Mine rose over the side and spilled over on to the cookie sheet I had under the pan.
No eggs or anything?
Yup!
Follow the instructions !!! just two ingredients !! no water, no pam, no anything else. i have tried variations
and the best way IS the easiest way = just a box of one step angel food, and one can of lemon pie filling.
that is how they come out the best, and absolutely no skills necesarry = :)
ps… just sprinkle powerded sugar on them when done, so people will think you did some work making them !
Good tips, Wendy. Thanks.
Sounded yummy and simple but mine flopped big time. I am however going to try again. I did oil my pan (wont do that again). I used the two step box of angel food cake (I will try the one step). I double checked the expiration date on the cake and pie filling and they were good. They tasted ok but smelled horrible we couldn’t get over the smell so threw them all away!!! I WILL TRY AGAIN!!
I think the one step mix is the secret!
Made this again and it was much better. Its a simple easy two ingredient recipe. Not gourmet but a good lemon dessert.
How do you pull the reciepe for the lemon Bars up into one sheet instead of the pictures?
I just wanted to print only the recipe.
There’s a green and gray button at the bottom of the post.
Turned out yummy! Did you refrigerate your when it was done? Thanks!
You don’t have to refrigerate these. Thanks!
Can you sub lemon curd?
I’ve never tried that. I’m not sure.
Ooops.. did I buy the wrong ingredient after all? I was standing in the baking aisle kind of puzzled. I didn’t find lemon pie filling – you would think it would be easy to find.. is that JELLO? I bought Pillsbury lemon frosting. Can I use lemon frosting instead of pie filling? baaah
Never mind! I found it! It was on the other side of the aisle! :) hehe :~) can’t wait to try it
I’ve only used pie filling before.
Whatever you do, don’t put this in a bunt pan ! I royally messed it up!
Uh oh! Good to know.
I’m headed to the store now to buy the cake mix and lemon filling……can’t wait to try these!!! Thanks!
You’re welcome! Hope they’re great :)
outstanding
What size pan did you use ???
it says 9×13
not a baker.. but I am hoping not even I can mess these up! looks easy and tasty.. Thanks for sharing.
cool stuff
Do you have a friendly printable version to your recipes?
Thanks
Peggy
Yes, click the green and gray printerfriendly icon at the bottom of each post.
xo
rach
love love the lemon bars
OMG!! So good and easy! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome!
xo
rach
Just pulled these out of the oven. They look and smell amazing! Hubby gets home from work in about half an hour. Hope we both like them!! :D
It is amazing what you can do with an angel food mix! Other delicious 2-ingredient “recipes” pair the mix with a regular size can of crushed pineapple or a can of cherry or apple pie filling. No water, just the two ingredients! I don’t grease the pan, because the angel food needs to climb the walls of the pan to rise properly. When the cake is completely cool, cut into serving sized pieces and run a knife around the edges of the pan. Then remove the pieces with a pancake turner.
Great tips. Thanks.
xo
rach
I am assuming these lemon bars were made with the 1 step angel food? No additional water to the cake mix? Just dry cake mix and lemon pudding? Can they be made with 2 step angel food mix?
I’m not sure either.
That’s correct. I use the 1 step version. The 2 step kind turn out, but not as well.
xo
rach
Added these to my XMass open house sweets tray for 2012!
yay! thanks ellen.
xo
rachc=
I used lemon curd with a little water, maybe 1/4 cup, and we’ll see how they turned out. But since the spatula was OMG yummy, I can’t imagine how they’d flop!
excellent! hoping for the best.
xo
rach
Hi Rachel, I love, love, love anything lemon and this sure fits the bill for something quick and easy when I’m working a lot. Thanks for all your great recipes!
You’re welcome. Thank YOU.
xo
rach
Those look really tasty. Must try them. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome. love your blog too :)
xo
rach
I WILL make these. Yummy. I heart lemony things.
<3 lemon <3
Blimey! So simple. I’m very impressed and not too bad for you!
Thanks! I agree :)
xo
rach
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