Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste:Sweet yet tangy and rich!
Texture:Each bite has the perfect contrast of the buttery crunchy crust with the luscious creamy filling.
Ease:Much easier than a full-sized cheesecake!
Pros:Quick, easy, and perfect for entertaining. These also travel easily, for a great potluck dessert.
Cons:Absolutely none.
Would I make this again?I make these all the time!

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Meet your new favorite cheesecake bars recipe!

Thick and creamy cream cheese filling with the perfect amount of tang. Buttery, crunchy graham cracker crust. Toppings of your choosing.

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (1)

As much as I love a big, impressive full-sized cheesecake, they are a pain to bake! You’re fighting cracks and sinking if you don’t take the steps to set up a water bath. Plus, it takes some experience to know when a full-size cheesecake is actually done baking.

They take a while to bake and even longer to cool down and chill before you even get a bite of cheesecake.

Delayed gratification like that is sometimes just too much to bear. This is where cheesecake BARS come onto the scene!

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (2)

They’re faster and easier to prep, bake, and chill. They’re easier to slice and serve so they make the perfect treat for a potluck, party, or event. And because they’re so simple, you can get creative with fun topping ideas!

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (3)

How to Make Classic Cheesecake Bars

How do I Make a Cheesecake Crust That Won’t Crumble?

  1. Use a food processor to finely grind your graham crackers for best results.
  2. Once combined, press the crust ingredients into the pan very firmly.
  3. I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup or glass, to ensure the crust is well-pressed into the pan.

What Can I Use Instead of Graham Crackers?

You can use the same amount by weight of digestive biscuits, vanilla wafers, Biscoff cookies, or any crunchy cookie you’d like! Please note that Biscoff cookies are a little richer than graham crackers (which are drier), so add just enough butter until it holds together when pressed.

What Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use for Cheesecake Bars?

  • Be sure to use blocks of full-fat, high-quality cream cheese.
  • Do not use reduced fat or your cheesecake bars may be watery, rubbery, or otherwise lackluster.
  • Definitely don’t use whipped cream cheese or cream cheese for spreading on a bagel.
  • Opt for the best brand you can find as some generic brands have too much water content!

How to get Smooth and Creamy Cheesecake Bars

  • Be sure your cream cheese is COMPLETELY softened to room temperature.
  • Beat it very well with the sugar.
  • Once you add eggs, only beat until combined to prevent sinking or cracking (though the risk of that happening is far smaller with bars!).
  • Also, be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of your bowl as well as your mixer attachment often to prevent lumps.

How to Cut Cheesecake Bars for Clean Slices

  1. Use the parchment overhang to lift the entire tray of cheesecake up and out of the pan and onto a cutting board.
  2. A big sharp knife is the best tool
  3. For ultraclean slices, run the knife under hot water and wipe off between cuts.
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Cheesecake Bar Topping Ideas

Get creative here! You can serve the bars plain, but they’re so much more fun with toppings!

  • Chocolate ganache (use 1:1 ratio)
  • Salted caramel
  • Butterscotch sauce
  • Prepared dulce de leche
  • Fruit preserves
  • Whipped cream
  • Fresh fruit
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How to Store Cheesecake Bars

These bars can be made and refrigerated 2 days ahead of time or frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a couple of hours before serving.

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More Cheesecake Bar Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Nutella Cheesecake Bars
  • Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars
  • No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
  • Bailey’s Cheesecake Bars
  • Brownie Bottom Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (7)

How to Make

Cheesecake Bars

By: Tessa Arias

5 from 25 votes

Yield: 18 bars

Prep Time: 25 minutes mins

Inactive (Chilling) Time: 6 hours hrs

Cook Time: 55 minutes mins

Total Time: 7 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Review Print

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The absolute best classic Cheesecake Bars you'll ever eat! This recipe features an easy, buttery graham cracker crust with an ultra creamy and slightly tangy cheesecake filling. Top with chocolate ganache or salted caramel to take this dessert to a whole other level!

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 18 (270 grams) graham crackers
  • 12 tablespoons (170 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

For the filling:

  • 32 ounces cream cheese, completely softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (114 grams) sour cream, at room temperature
  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Topping options:

  • Chocolate ganache (use 1:1 ratio)
  • Salted caramel sauce
  • Butterscotch sauce
  • Fruit preserves
  • Whipped cream
  • Fresh fruit

Instructions

Make the crust:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.

  • In a food processor, pulse the crackers until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until moistened. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan using the bottom of a measuring cup or glass. Bake until fragrant, about 10 minutes (longer if using a glass dish). Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Make the filling:

  • In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often, for at least 1 minute. Add the sour cream, then the eggs one at a time, blending after each addition until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in vanilla, lemon juice, and salt, and blend until just combined. Don’t over-mix.

  • Spread batter evenly over cooled crust. Tap against the counter a few times to release air bubbles. Bake at 325°F until just set in center and edges are puffed and slightly cracked, about 40 to 45 minutes (longer if using a glass dish). Transfer to rack to let cool completely.

  • Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight before slicing into squares.

  • The cheesecake can be made and refrigerated 2 days ahead of time or frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe | Cheesecake Squares (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Philadelphia cheesecake bars? ›

And for those that don't know, the Philadelphia Cheesecake Snack Bar debuted in 1999, and it was essentially a portable cheesecake. that you find in the refrigerated aisle at. the grocery stores. But sadly, it was discontinued in 2004.

What happens when you overbeat cheesecake batter? ›

With a few basic tips your cheesecake will bake rich, creamy and more fantastic than ever. Follow our tips for fabulous results. Avoid Overmixing: Unlike other cakes, where beating air into the batter is key, overmixed cheesecake can rise, fall and then crack from that excess air.

Should cheesecake bars be jiggly? ›

The Cheesecake Wobble Test

Well, it should wobble just slightly (you can see in our video). An underbaked cheesecake will ripple and jiggle noticeably. The key to a perfect cheesecake is a subtle wiggle—not a sloshy jiggle.

Is it better to overcook or undercook cheesecake? ›

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface.

How to cut squares evenly? ›

Dip the knife in the water, wipe it off with the towel and trim approximately ¼' from all sides of the baked good in order to create straight and even edging. Dip, wipe the knife again and continue to slice into the bars creating an even cut.

How do you cut perfect size bars? ›

To make precise and accurate cuts, insert three toothpicks, evenly spaced, along all four sides of the cooled bars. Cut diagonally across the bars beginning in one corner—the lower left corner is an easy place to make your first cut—and cutting from one toothpick to the next closest on the perpendicular side.

Why were the cheesecake bars discontinued? ›

The dessert was a refrigerated snack bar with a graham cracker base and cream cheese topping. They where available in various flavours but the most famous flavour was Strawberry Cheesecake. Unfortunately they where discontinued 2004-5, why? Kraft decided to stop them as they had challenges in the production.

Why did my cheesecake bars crack? ›

When the batter is overmixed, too much air is added and will cause your cake to rise in the oven and then collapse and crack when being removed. Don't overbake your cake. It may crack if it's too dry. Many people overbake their recipes to “play it safe”.

What can I use instead of Philadelphia in cheesecake? ›

Cream Cheese Substitutes:
  • Sour Cream. Sour cream replicates cream cheese's taste but isn't quite as caloric, making it a good choice for a lower-calorie substitute. ...
  • Greek Yogurt. ...
  • Neufchâtel. ...
  • Mascarpone. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Quark.
Oct 18, 2023

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

Does overmixed cheesecake still taste good? ›

Over mixing a cheesecake filling incorporates too much air, which the heavy base can't hold. That may make if rise and fall and change the texture. The bigger issue, I think, is the water in the cream cheese comes out and that makes for a grainy texture and possibly wet, broken cake filling.

How do you stiffen cheesecake mixture? ›

You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.

How do you know if cheesecake is overbaked? ›

Overcooked cheesecake will be dry and grainy instead of silky and smooth, which nobody wants to serve their diners. If you're not 100% certain of your oven's temperature calibration, as a general rule of thumb, you can start performing wobble tests up to 10 minutes before a recipe's minimum recommended cooking time.

Is cheesecake done when it jiggles? ›

When you shake the pan and a 2 in (5.1 cm) area in the center jiggles slightly, the cheesecake is done. If there is a large, jiggly area, or if liquid breaks the surface or sloshes over the edges of the pan, the cheesecake is not finished cooking.

How long should you leave a cheesecake to set? ›

The filling needs proper chilling, a minimum of four hours but preferably overnight, to set into sliceable sections. Freezing the cheesecake results in a too-hard-to-enjoy crust and filling. Try this: The cheesecake should be shiny and firm to the touch when set.

How long can cheesecake bars sit out? ›

While we wish we had better news, if you accidentally went to bed and left your cheesecake cooling on the counter, it's best to not risk illness by consuming it. When you have cheesecake that's already baked and chilled, the absolute max time you could let it sit out to avoid the USDA's "danger zone" is two hours.

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