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Perfect Red White and Blue Layered Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

red white and blue layered strawberry cheesecake bars - featured image
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These festive cheesecake bars feature a buttery graham cracker crust, a creamy cheesecake layer, and a fresh strawberry topping, perfect for 4th of July celebrations or any summer gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs
  • ⅓ cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for crust)
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar (for cheesecake layer)
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1 ½ cups (225g) fresh strawberries, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for topping)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir until crumbs are evenly coated and clump together when pressed.
  2. Press the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9×9-inch baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool slightly.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with ⅓ cup sugar until smooth and creamy. Add egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream; mix until just combined without overmixing.
  4. Pour cheesecake mixture over the cooled crust and smooth evenly. Bake for 25-28 minutes until edges are set but center jiggles slightly.
  5. While baking, combine chopped strawberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until berries soften and release juice.
  6. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook for another 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
  7. Once cheesecake is cool (refrigerate 15 minutes if desired), spread strawberry topping evenly over bars.
  8. Refrigerate assembled bars for at least 3 hours or overnight to set.
  9. Cut into squares using a sharp knife dipped in hot water and dried between cuts for clean slices.

Notes

Use frozen strawberries thawed and drained if fresh are unavailable. For gluten-free crust, substitute graham crackers with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs. For dairy-free/vegan version, use dairy-free cream cheese, coconut yogurt, and vegan butter. Avoid overmixing cheesecake batter to prevent cracks. Chill bars overnight for best slicing results.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesecake bars, strawberry cheesecake, 4th of July dessert, layered cheesecake, patriotic dessert, easy cheesecake bars, summer dessert

Find it online: https://blixfood.com/perfect-red-white-and-blue-layered-strawberry-cheesecake-bars-recipe-for-easy-4th-of-july-dessert/