Here’s a rich, tangy, and sweet dessert recipe for Cherry Cheesecake Bars—perfect for potlucks or a treat at home! 🍒🧀
Cherry Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients (Makes ~16 bars)
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup (115 g) butter, melted
For the Cheesecake Layer
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cherry Topping
- 1 can (21 oz / 595 g) cherry pie filling
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 175°C / 350°F.
- Grease or line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the Crust
- In a bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter.
- Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Let cool slightly.
3. Make the Cheesecake Layer
- Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the cheesecake mixture over the baked crust and spread evenly.
4. Bake
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10–15 minutes.
5. Add Cherry Topping
- Spread cherry pie filling evenly over the cooled cheesecake layer.
6. Chill and Serve
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into bars.
- Slice into squares and serve chilled.
Tips
- For extra flavor: Add ½ tsp almond extract to the cheesecake layer.
- Neater bars: Chill overnight for firmer slices.
- Variation: Use blueberry or strawberry pie filling instead of cherry.
If you want, I can also give a quick 3-ingredient “dump-and-bake” version that’s ready in under 30 minutes—still creamy and delicious.
Do you want me to do that?
