Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Somewhere between a cake and a healthy energy bar, these blueberry cheesecake bars will certainly energize anyone lucky enough to get a taste. They are fruity, tangy and undeniably sweet, but not so sugary that you wouldn’t offer one as an after-school snack.

Best of all, while these cheesecake bars with blueberries might seem rather fancy, they are deliciously easy to make and use relatively common kitchen ingredients. So, let’s gather our ingredients and get to work.

Blueberry Cheesecake Bar Ingredients

• Graham crackers: Make sure the graham crackers are crushed into even crumbs without any large bits.
• Sugar: You’ll use 2 teaspoons of sugar for the crust, and a good deal more later for the filling.
• Ground cinnamon: The ground cinnamon is optional, but highly recommended, as it brings a welcome spicy element to the crust.
• Butter: Make sure the butter has fully melted before you start to form the crust.

Filling:

• Cream cheese: The cream cheese has to be softened for use in this recipe, so get it out of the fridge, at least a half hour before you commence the cooking.
• Sugar: Here you find a good deal more sugar, but as noted, not an overwhelming amount.
• Sour cream: You can use reduced-fat sour cream or regular sour cream for these bars.
• Lemon juice: Always use fresh lemon juice when possible, versus the bottled stuff.
• Lemon zest: Why did we say that about the juice? Why, because of the zest of course. You can’t get zest without a lemon.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is powerful stuff, so as always, we advise you to use no more than the recommended teaspoon.
• Eggs: The eggs should also be at room temperature, so get them out of the fridge at the same time as you get out the cream cheese.
• Blueberries: You really do need to use fresh blueberries for this recipe, frozen will not have the right consistency.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the graham cracker crust

Preheat the oven to 325°F, then line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, letting the ends extend up sides. Then, in a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and, if desired, the cinnamon. Press this mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, then bake it for 8 to 9 minutes or until the crust has lightly browned. Then, place the pan on a wire rack to cool.

Step 2: Form the filling

In another bowl, beat the cream cheese until it’s smooth, which will take 3 to 4 minutes. Then, beat in the sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract until everything has combined, which takes 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating on low just until they have been combined. Finally, fold in 1 cup of blueberries, pour the filling on top of the graham cracker crust and sprinkle on the remaining blueberries.

Step 3: Bake the cheesecake bars

Bake the bars until the filling has just set, which will take 35 to 40 minutes. Let the bars cool to room temperature, then refrigerate them for 2 hours or until they are fully chilled. Lifting with the sides of the parchment, remove the cheesecake from the pan. And cut it into 9 bars.

Blueberry Cheesecake Bar Variations

• Try it with raspberries: You can follow this exact same recipe using raspberries instead of blueberries and the results will be delicious.
• Use almond extract: You can swap out the vanilla extract for almond extract for tasty cheesecake bars with a nutty edge.
• Use yogurt instead of sour cream: Plain yogurt can be swapped in for the sour cream, or you could even use a flavored yogurt to add some more taste.

How to Store Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

You can store these blueberry cheesecake bars in airtight containers in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

Can you freeze cheesecake bars?

Absolutely. Sealed in airtight packaging or wrap, these bars will keep well in the freezer for 3 to 4 months.

Blueberry Cheesecake Bar Tips

What should I serve with these bars?

Our recommendation is a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. They are a great mid-morning or midday snack, enjoyed with nothing but a favorite beverage.

What else can I add to these bars?

You don’t want to overdo it with other ingredients, but a pinch of nutmeg in the crust and a drizzle of chocolate syrup after they are baked are both fine ideas.

How many calories are in these bars?

As prepared, one bar has around 350 calories, so they will give you the energy you need to get through that meeting or study session.