Description
Lemon Swirl Cheesecake Bars perfectly balance creamy richness with bright, tangy lemon zest. Featuring a smooth cheesecake base with a vibrant lemon swirl on a buttery graham cracker crust, these bars are an easy, refreshing dessert ideal for any occasion and season.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
For the Lemon Swirl
- Reserved 1/4 cup cheesecake batter
- 1 tablespoon extra fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. Bake for 8-10 minutes to set, then remove from the oven.
- Mix the cheesecake filling: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Gradually add sugar and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Blend in sour cream or heavy cream, followed by fresh lemon juice and lemon zest until fully combined.
- Create the lemon swirl: Pour most of the cheesecake batter evenly over the pre-baked crust. Take a reserved small portion of the batter and mix it with additional lemon juice to intensify the flavor. Drop spoonfuls of this lemon swirl mixture over the base batter. Use a skewer or knife to gently swirl the mixture, creating beautiful patterns without fully mixing.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center slightly jiggles when shaken. Avoid overbaking to keep the filling creamy and moist.
- Cool and chill: Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature. Then refrigerate the bars for several hours or overnight to firm up and enhance the flavors.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent cracks during baking.
- Use room temperature ingredients for a silky texture.
- Fresh lemon juice and zest provide the best flavor.
- Press the crust firmly to avoid crumbling when slicing.
- Chill adequately to ensure clean slices and maintain creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16 of recipe)
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Lemon, Cheesecake Bars, Dessert, Lemon Swirl, Cream Cheese, Easy Dessert
