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Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

These strawberry lemon cheesecake bars feature a smooth lemon cheesecake base, swirled with strawberries and baked over a crisp crust for a balanced, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling & Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 20 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • Graham cracker crumbs or digestive biscuit crumbs
  • Granulated sugar
  • Unsalted butter melted
Cheesecake Filling
  • Full-fat cream cheese softened
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs room temperature
  • Sour cream or heavy cream
  • Fresh lemon zest
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
Strawberry Layer
  • Strawberry puree or thick strawberry sauce
Optional Garnish
  • Fresh strawberries
  • Lemon zest

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Zester and citrus juicer
  • Offset spatula or knife (for swirling)
  • Cooling rack

Method
 

Step 1: Prepare the Crust
  1. Line the pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy lifting. Mix crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until evenly combined. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan and bake briefly to set.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling
  1. Beat cream cheese on low speed until smooth. Add sugar and mix gently. Add eggs one at a time, mixing slowly. Stir in sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Mix only until combined.
Step 3: Assemble the Layers
  1. Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust and smooth the surface. Spoon strawberry puree or sauce in small dollops across the top.
Step 4: Create the Swirl
  1. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the strawberry into the lemon cheesecake layer. Keep the motion light to preserve definition.
Step 5: Bake
  1. Bake until the edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle. Overbaking will dry out the bars.
Step 6: Cool and Chill
  1. Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for several hours until fully set before slicing.