Description
Zesty lemon bars with a refreshing orange citrus delight bring Mediterranean sunshine to classic dessert tables. Creamy filling and buttery crust combine for a tangy treat that delights palates and promises sweet memories you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ⅓ cups (165 g) Nilla Wafer Cookie Crumbs
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 oz (226 g) Cool Whip, divided
- 3 oz (85 g) orange gelatin
- 5 tbsps (75 mL) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup (180 mL) boiling water
- ¾ cup (180 mL) cold water
- 2 tsps orange extract
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (120 g) confectioners’ sugar
- 8 drops orange Wilton Gel Food Color (optional)
Instructions
- Pan Preparation: Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, covering bottom and sides completely to facilitate easy removal.
- Crust Formation: Pulverize Nilla Wafers into fine crumbs, then blend with melted butter until mixture resembles moist sand. Press firmly and evenly into pan, creating a compact foundation. Freeze for 30 minutes to solidify.
- Gelatin Preparation: Dissolve orange gelatin powder in boiling water, stirring until completely integrated. Mix in cold water, then refrigerate for 10 minutes without allowing full solidification.
- Cream Cheese Layer: Whip cream cheese until silky smooth, blending powdered sugar, orange extract, and food coloring. Gradually incorporate chilled gelatin, whisking continuously to ensure uniform consistency.
- Cheesecake Integration: Beat cream cheese with confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Fold in whipped topping, maintaining a light texture. Spread evenly over chilled crust.
- Orange Cream Finalization: Merge remaining whipped topping with orange cream mixture, creating a smooth, well-integrated layer. Spread carefully over cheesecake layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Chilling and Setting: Refrigerate overnight or minimum 6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and dessert to set completely before serving.
Notes
- Crust Consistency Check: Press crumb mixture firmly to prevent crumbling; compact base ensures clean, stable slices.
- Gelatin Precision: Dissolve completely in boiling water and stir thoroughly to avoid lumpy texture in orange layer.
- Chilling Strategy: Allow each layer to set properly in refrigerator; overnight setting develops deeper, richer flavor profile.
- Temperature Control: Keep ingredients cool during mixing to maintain smooth, creamy texture and prevent separation of cream cheese mixture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 166
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 156 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg