Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

This Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe is a creamy and rich recipe, which is made with fresh strawberries and cream cheese. It’s the perfect dessert for parties, ready in about an hour and a half, plus chilling time.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe Ingredients

For the Strawberry Swirl:

• 1 lb. strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch

For the Crust:

• 40 vanilla creme sandwich cookies, such as golden Oreos
• 6 Tbsp. salted butter, melted

For the Filling:

• Nonstick baking spray
• 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 5 or 6 drops red food coloring (optional)

How To Make Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

1. Make the strawberry swirl: In a small saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for about 5 minutes, until the strawberries are very soft. Mash the berries, then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid.
2. Thicken the swirl: Return the sauce to the saucepan. In a small bowl, make a slurry by combining the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Whisk the slurry into the strawberry sauce. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of caramel. Set aside to cool.
3. Make the cookie crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prepare a 13×9-inch baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray and lining it with parchment paper. In a food processor, pulse the cookies into fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse to combine. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, then let it cool for at least 15 minutes.
4. Prepare the cheesecake filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt on medium speed until completely smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the sour cream. Then, beat in the eggs, one at a time, just until combined. If desired, beat in a few drops of red food coloring until you reach a light pink shade.
5. Assemble and bake the bars: Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust and spread it evenly. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and spoon small dollops of the cooled strawberry sauce over the top. Use a toothpick or knife to gently swirl the sauce into the cheesecake filling.
6. Finish baking: Return the cheesecake to the oven and bake for another 35 to 40 minutes, until the center is just set but still has a slight jiggle.
7. Chill the bars completely: Let the cheesecake cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) until completely firm and chilled.

Recipe Tips

• How do you get a perfect swirl? The key is to slightly pre-bake the cheesecake filling for 10 minutes before adding the sauce. This helps the sauce sit on top so you can create beautiful swirls with a toothpick, rather than having it sink straight to the bottom.
• How do I get clean, perfect slices? The most important step is to make sure the cheesecake is thoroughly chilled, preferably overnight. Use a long, sharp knife, run it under hot water, and wipe it dry between each and every cut.
• Why did my cheesecake crack? Cracking is usually a sign of over-baking. The cheesecake is done when the edges are set but the very center still has a slight wobble. It will finish setting as it cools.
• Can I make the strawberry sauce ahead of time? Absolutely. The recipe tip notes that the sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, which makes assembly day much quicker.

What To Serve With Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

These bars are a rich and complete dessert on their own, perfect for parties, potlucks, and bake sales. For an extra touch, you can serve them with:

• A dollop of fresh whipped cream
• A few fresh strawberry slices on top
• A cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk

How To Store Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

• Refrigerate: These bars must be stored in the refrigerator. Cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. They will keep well for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: Cheesecake bars freeze beautifully. Once chilled, you can slice them and place them in a freezer-safe container, with parchment paper between the layers, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Nutrition Facts

• Serving: 1 bar (1/16th of recipe)
• Calories: 420 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 14g
• Sugar: 35g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Peachy Pancakes Recipe
• Rainbow Cookies Recipe
• Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Recipe