These Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are the best fruity desserts for the summertime. These fresh and tangy treats are made with a buttery shortbread crust for perfection in every bite.
Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Helloooo people!
Today I’m looking out for ya! Honest.
…A giver, a people pleaser, an all around go-to girl, that’s what I am. The thing is, I hear you need fruit in your diet. Health is important.
So today two fruits for the price of one. See? A giver! Plus there’s dairy and fiber: cheesecake and shortbread. A people pleaser!!! I told ya!
OR, I suppose you could say I’m a saboteur. A mean girl. An enabler…
Because, honestly I’m trying to sell you cheesecake bars as a well rounded meal. But I’m pretty much sure that might make me the coolest mean girl ever.
You say tomato.
Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars. Complete daily sustenance. Feel free to eat 30.
How to Make Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
The crust is yummy shortbread…and I actually used my pastry cutter…I knew I bought that thing for a reason!
It’ll be super crumbly and dry. Don’t you worry…
Press it into the pan and bake it until the edges are beginning to golden up.
When the crust is partially cooked, pull it out and spread on some Strawberry preserves. Use good ones, people.
How pretty is that?
Then pour the lemon cream cheese mixture on top of that.
I didn’t show this step, but while the crust is partially baking, you can mix this up. Super simple.
While it’s baking clean up.
No one likes a messy kitchen 😉
And finito!
I’m telling you, a full meal.
Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 36 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are the best fruity desserts for the summertime. These fresh and tangy treats are made with a buttery shortbread crust for perfection in every bite.
Ingredients
- 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 oven to 350°
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl combine flour, powdered sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest and butter. Cut together with a pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly. It will be dry, don’t worry.
- Press the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes until edges start to golden.
- Meanwhile, in bowl of stand mixer beat together cream cheese, remaining zest and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, stirring until combined. Stir in lemon juice.
- When crust is golden, remove from oven and spread strawberry preserves evenly on top. Pour cream cheese mixture on top of preserves.
- Continue baking for 25 minutes until cheesecake is set in the middle.
- Allow to cool on wire rack for 20 minutes and then chill in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
- Cut into squares when ready to serve.
Notes
Garnish with whipped cream and strawberries if desired.
Recipe adapted from Southern Living
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 126
- Sugar: 10.1 g
- Sodium: 22.4 mg
- Fat: 5.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.3 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol: 25.3 mg
Made these as soon as I read the recipe tonight- so delicious! I ate half of the dish by myself uh oh :S
You said eat 30, right? I’m on it.
This is a dumb question but if I halved the recipe, would it make an 8×8 pan?
The bars might be a little thinner, but they’ll be fine!
Thanks for the recipe. The crust part is in the oven now.
Wow, this is pretty much health food, isn’t it!! Looks absolutely gorgeous, cheesy and sweet… and YES. I definitely need some of these in my life to fulfil my fruit ratio!
Thanks so much for the gorgeous recipe. Just found you over at Rachel Cooks. Beautiful blog!! x
I should not be looking at your blog this late. I’m gaining weight just from looking at it all! Love this.
A full meal? YES! I am making it tonight’s dinner 🙂
Bright, summery and sweet!! Looks great!
I could DEFINITELY see these becoming part of my balanced diet!
I’m swooning over here. This is uber decadent AND a complete meal! I chose not to read the latter part of your post where you debunked all the nutrition stuff.