Best Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Directions

• Crust

  1. Step 1
     

     Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly oil a 9″-by-9″ baking pan with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment, leaving a 2″ overhang on 2 opposite sides. Lightly coat parchment with cooking spray.

  2. Step 2In a medium bowl, mix crushed crackers, butter, granulated sugar, butter, and salt until mixture resembles wet sand and holds together when pressed.
  3. Step 3Scrape mixture into prepared pan. Press into an even layer on bottom of up sides of pan with the back of a spoon or measuring cup.
  4. Step 4Bake crust until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool.

• Strawberry Topping

  In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch, smashing berries with a potato masher or side of a wooden spoon to release juices, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool slightly while preparing cream cheese filling and crumble topping.

• Cream Cheese Filling

  In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. 

• Crumble Topping & Assembly

  1. Step 1In a medium bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and stir until a crumbly dough forms. Spread cream cheese filling over crust. Carefully dollop strawberry topping over cream cheese filling. Using your hands, crumble topping over.
  2. Step 2Bake bar until puffed and just set in the center, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour more.
  3. Step 3Using parchment overhang, lift up bar and transfer to a cutting board. Slice into squares and top each slice with a halved strawberry.