Description
Delight in these luscious Strawberry Cheesecake Bars featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, smooth and creamy cheesecake filling, topped with fresh diced strawberries and a crumbly streusel topping. Perfectly baked to set and chilled for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- â…“ cup granulated sugar
Cheesecake Filling
- 2 packages (16 oz total) cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- â…“ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Fruit Layer
- 2 cups diced fresh strawberries
Streusel Topping
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and â…“ cup granulated sugar. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create an even crust layer.
- Mix the cheesecake filling: In a large bowl, beat together the room temperature cream cheese, eggs, â…“ cup granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until completely smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining.
- Assemble the base layer: Pour the cheesecake filling evenly over the graham cracker crust in the baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Add the fruit layer: Evenly layer the diced fresh strawberries over the cheesecake filling, distributing them to cover the surface gently.
- Prepare the streusel topping: In another bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly and forms clumps.
- Top and bake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the strawberries. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the cheesecake filling is set in the center and the topping is golden brown.
- Cool and chill: Allow the bars to cool in the baking dish for about one hour at room temperature. Then transfer the bars to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours before cutting into 12 servings and serving.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth cheesecake filling.
- Press the crust firmly into the pan to prevent crumbling when cutting the bars.
- Fresh strawberries are recommended for the best flavor and texture, but frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained.
- Chilling the bars thoroughly before serving helps the cheesecake set properly and makes cutting cleaner.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
