Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature before mixing to ensure it blends smoothly into the batter while baking.
Zest your lemons before juicing them to get the most flavor. The zest packs the bright citrus flavor while the juice provides the signature lip-puckering tartness.
Resist any urge to overmix the batters. Gentle folding blends without deflating the rising agents that create lift as it bakes.
An 8-inch square pan gives the perfect ratio of creamy cheesy filling to cakey goodness per serving. But a round pan could also work.
A glass baking dish allows you to peek at the marbling effect as it bakes up. So gorgeous!
Let it fully cool before enjoying for neat, pretty slices that hold together nicely with all that melty filling.
