Description
These Swirled Lemon Cheesecake Bars combine rich, creamy cheesecake with a burst of fresh lemon flavor, making for a delightful dessert that’s simple yet impressive.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Prepare the Crust: Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, then press into the bottom of a lined baking pan.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then add sour cream, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix until well combined.
- Layer the Filling: Pour half of the cheesecake mixture over the crust. Drizzle some lemon juice and zest on top, then follow with the remaining cheesecake filling.
- Swirl It: Gently swirl the lemon juice and zest into the cheesecake filling with a knife or toothpick.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set with a slight jiggle in the center.
- Chill: Let the bars cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cutting.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese for a smoother texture; chill completely to enhance flavor and set the bars. Fresh lemons elevate the taste immensely.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg