Description
These Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are the perfect combination of creamy cheesecake, tangy lemon, and sweet strawberry preserves, all sitting on a buttery, crumbly crust. They’re an irresistible dessert for any occasion, with a refreshing, fruity twist.
Ingredients
Units
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- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp lemon zest, divided
- 3/4 cup cold butter, cut into tablespoon-sized pieces
- 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup strawberry preserves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and 1 tsp of lemon zest. Add the cold butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press the dough mixture into the prepared baking pan to form an even crust layer. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
- In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the remaining lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust in the baking pan. Smooth it out evenly.
- Drop spoonfuls of strawberry preserves over the cream cheese layer, then use a knife or skewer to swirl the preserves into the cheesecake filling.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the center is set and slightly jiggles when shaken.
- Allow the bars to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to fully set.
- Once chilled, slice into bars and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- For a smoother swirl, gently heat the strawberry preserves before dropping it onto the cheesecake filling.
- These bars can be made up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator for a refreshing treat.
- For added texture, you can sprinkle crushed graham crackers or nuts over the crust before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg