Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

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🍓 Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Cheesecake Filling

  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened (2 blocks)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)

For the Strawberry Topping

Option A — Fresh Strawberry Sauce

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp water (slurry)

Option B — Shortcut

  • 1 cup strawberry jam (warmed slightly)

🧁 Instructions

1. Prepare the Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl, mix:
    • Graham cracker crumbs
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • Melted butter
  4. Press firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan.
  5. Bake 8 minutes, then set aside to cool slightly.

2. Make the Cheesecake Filling

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add sugar and beat until creamy.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined.
  4. Mix in vanilla and sour cream.
  5. Pour the filling over the baked crust and smooth the top.

3. Strawberry Topping

Option A — Fresh Strawberry Sauce

  1. In a saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.
  2. Cook 5–7 minutes until juicy and bubbling.
  3. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook 1–2 minutes until thickened.
  4. Cool slightly, then spoon small amounts over the cheesecake filling.
  5. Swirl gently with a knife.

Option B — Jam Swirl

  1. Warm strawberry jam
  2. Drop dollops over filling
  3. Swirl lightly with a knife

4. Bake

  • Bake at 325°F for 30–38 minutes, or until the center is mostly set but still slightly jiggly.
  • Remove and cool fully on the counter, then chill at least 3 hours (overnight is best).

5. Serve

  • Lift out using parchment and cut into bars.
  • Optional: Top with whipped cream or fresh strawberries.

⭐ Tips for Perfect Cheesecake Bars

  • Don’t overmix the batter — keeps the texture smooth.
  • Ensure cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps.
  • Chilling fully is what makes them slice beautifully.

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