Lemon Butter Chews Cookie Recipe

These bar cookies have a lemony cheesecake flavor and a kick of white chocolate. Fast and easy to make due to the cake mix. Tried and true recpe brings raves. These turn out a fabulous 2-layer lemon bar and are so easy to make. I also varied the recipe and used a devil's food cake mix for a brownie variation. Feel free to use other flavors to suit your own tastes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 box lemon cake mix
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 8 Tablespoons butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil.

Combine cake mix, 1 egg, and butter with a large spatula or wooden spoon. This will give your arm a workout, but if you keep folding it over and pressing to mix, it will eventually come together into a dough that resembles childrens' play-dough.

Using your fingers, press dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the white chocolate chips and gently press a bit into the dough so they do not roll around.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 2 eggs for 30 seconds. Stir in sugar just until combined, then beat on medium speed for 3 minutes until smooth.

Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly over the bottom layer. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until center is set. Remove from oven and let cool on rack to room temperature. Slice cookie bars into squares to serve.

Yield: 24 to 36 cookie bars, depending on cut size

_{Lemon Butter Chews Recipe Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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