Description
Lemon cheesecake bars are a creamy, tangy dessert with a buttery graham cracker crust and a refreshing lemon flavor, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 15 sheets graham crackers
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
- 24 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Lemon curd for swirls (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, pulse graham crackers into crumbs. Mix with sugar and melted butter until well combined. Press into the prepared pan and bake for 8-9 minutes until golden. Let it cool completely.
- Beat softened cream cheese in a large bowl for 4-5 minutes until fluffy. Add sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Gently add eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined. Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
- Drop dollops of lemon curd on top and swirl with a knife or toothpick to create a marbled effect.
- Bake for 65-70 minutes. If the top browns too much, cover with foil. Let the bars cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 1 hour. Then, cool completely at room temperature and refrigerate overnight.
- Slice into squares using a sharp knife and serve.
Notes
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for a smooth filling.
- If you want extra tanginess, add more lemon juice and zest.
- To prevent cracks, avoid overmixing the batter and consider using a water bath for baking.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free graham crackers or digestive biscuits.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 65-70 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Lemon cheesecake bars, lemon dessert bars, cheesecake bars, tangy cheesecake bars, creamy lemon bars