Golden Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

The Golden Dream: Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Sweet and tangy golden strawberry cheesecake bars promise a delightful twist on classic desserts.

Creamy layers meld perfectly with vibrant fruit flavors.

Smooth cream cheese creates a luxurious base that melts in your mouth.

Fresh strawberries add natural sweetness and bright color to each bite.

Elegant yet simple, this recipe brings restaurant-quality treats right to your kitchen counter.

Simple ingredients combine to create something truly magical.

Why These Strawberry Bars Are So Golden

  • Craft Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: These golden strawberry cheesecake bars are perfect for gatherings, potlucks, and family celebrations, delivering a delightful blend of creamy cheesecake and fresh fruity flavors that everyone will adore.
  • Simplify Baking Process: With straightforward ingredients and minimal steps, this recipe welcomes bakers of all skill levels, making it an accessible treat that doesn't require professional pastry training or complex techniques.
  • Customize with Ease: Swap strawberries with seasonal fruits like blueberries or peaches, adjust jam types, or add chocolate drizzle to create personalized versions that match your taste preferences and creative cooking style.
  • Quick Prep, Maximum Enjoyment: This no-fuss dessert comes together quickly, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying delicious results with friends and family.

What’s Inside Golden Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Crust Ingredients:
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs: A classic base that provides a sweet and crunchy foundation for the cheesecake bars.
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness to the crust mixture.
  • Butter: Helps bind the crust ingredients and creates a rich, golden base.
Filling Ingredients:
  • Cream Cheese: The primary ingredient that gives the bars a creamy and smooth texture.
  • Sugar: Enhances the sweetness of the cheesecake filling.
  • Eggs: Provide structure and help the filling set properly.
  • Vanilla: Adds a warm, classic flavor to the cheesecake.
Topping Ingredients:
  • Strawberries: Fresh fruit that adds a bright, sweet, and slightly tart flavor to the bars.
  • Strawberry Jam: Creates a glossy, sweet glaze that enhances the strawberries and adds extra flavor.

How to Bake Sweet and Tangy Cheesecake Bars

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Pan

Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal. This will help you lift out the cheesecake bars cleanly and effortlessly.

Step 2: Create the Crunchy Crust

Combine in a mixing bowl:
  • Graham cracker crumbs
  • Sugar
  • Melted butter

Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating a solid and compact base for your cheesecake bars.

Step 3: Whip Up the Creamy Filling

In a separate large bowl, blend until silky smooth:
  • Cream cheese
  • Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract

Ensure the mixture is completely free of lumps for a velvety texture.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker crust. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes. The cheesecake is ready when it’s set but still slightly jiggly in the center.

Step 5: Cool and Decorate

Allow the cheesecake to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, arrange fresh strawberry slices across the top in an elegant pattern.

Step 6: Add the Glossy Glaze

Warm strawberry jam in a small saucepan until it becomes liquid. Drizzle the melted jam over the strawberry-topped cheesecake, creating a beautiful and delicious finish.

Step 7: Chill and Serve

Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 2 hours to set completely. Use the parchment paper handles to lift out the dessert, then slice into bars. Serve chilled and enjoy the golden, fruity treat!

Top Tips for Cheesecake That Won’t Crack

  • Swap graham cracker crumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free cookies for a celiac-friendly version.
  • Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature to achieve a smoother, lump-free cheesecake filling.
  • Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the most vibrant flavor and color on top of the bars.
  • Create a glossy finish by warming strawberry jam until it becomes a smooth, pourable glaze that adds an extra layer of sweetness.
  • Chill the bars completely before cutting to get clean, precise edges and help the cheesecake set perfectly.

Creative Ways to Switch Up This Bar Recipe

  • Tropical Paradise Bars: Replace strawberries with mango chunks and use passion fruit jam for a vibrant, exotic flavor profile.
  • Chocolate Lover's Dream: Swap graham cracker crust with chocolate cookie crumbs, add cocoa powder to filling, and top with chocolate ganache drizzle.
  • Lemon Berry Bliss: Incorporate lemon zest into cream cheese filling, use blueberries instead of strawberries, and finish with a light lemon glaze.
  • Nutty Caramel Creation: Mix chopped pecans into the crust, drizzle with salted caramel sauce, and sprinkle toasted nuts on top for extra crunch.

What Goes Best With Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

  • Pair Creamy Dessert with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Moscato or Riesling complements the rich, sweet cheesecake bars with its light, fruity notes and balances the creamy texture.
  • Refresh with Sparkling Beverage: Serve alongside a sparkling rosé or champagne to cut through the richness and enhance the strawberry flavor with its effervescent bubbles.
  • Elevate with Herbal Tea Contrast: Brew a delicate chamomile or lavender tea to provide a subtle, aromatic counterpoint to the sweet, decadent strawberry cheesecake bars.
  • Intensify Strawberry Experience: Garnish with a small scoop of strawberry sorbet to amplify the fruit's freshness and create a harmonious flavor profile that highlights the dessert's natural sweetness.

How to Store Strawberry Bars Without Drying Out

  • Store the strawberry cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out and absorbing other food odors.
  • Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Let bars sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to soften slightly. Avoid microwaving, as this can make the crust soggy and affect the creamy texture.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars: FAQ You’ll Love

  • Can I use a different type of fruit instead of strawberries?

Yes, you can easily swap strawberries with raspberries, blueberries, or peaches to create a different flavor profile for the cheesecake bars.

  • Do I need any special equipment to make these bars?

No, you only need basic baking tools like a 9×13 inch pan, mixing bowls, an electric mixer, and standard measuring cups and spoons.

  • How do I know when the cheesecake bars are fully baked?

The bars are done when the center is set and no longer jiggly, typically after 25-30 minutes of baking. A slight golden color around the edges is also a good indicator.

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Golden Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Golden Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Recipe


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4.7 from 10 reviews

  • Total Time: 40-45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Sweet summer memories blend perfectly with golden strawberry cheesecake bars, offering a delightful dessert experience. Creamy textures and luscious fruit layers invite dessert enthusiasts to savor each delectable bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 16 ounces (454 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup (150 grams) strawberries, sliced
  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) strawberry jam

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar

Flavoring Ingredient:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by lining with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. Combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar, creating a uniform mixture that will form the foundational crust.
  3. Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, ensuring an even and compact base.
  4. Whip cream cheese with sugar until achieving a silky, lump-free consistency, then incorporate eggs and vanilla extract.
  5. Gently pour the creamy cheesecake mixture over the prepared graham cracker crust, spreading evenly to cover the entire surface.
  6. Place the pan in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, watching for a set and slightly golden appearance.
  7. Remove from oven and allow the cheesecake to cool completely at room temperature, which helps prevent cracking.
  8. Artfully arrange fresh strawberry slices across the cooled cheesecake surface for visual appeal and fruity flavor.
  9. Warm strawberry jam in a small saucepan until it becomes liquid and translucent.
  10. Delicately drizzle the melted jam over the strawberry-topped cheesecake, creating an elegant glaze.
  11. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to ensure firm, clean-cut bars with a perfectly chilled texture.
  12. Slice into rectangular bars and serve chilled for maximum enjoyment.

Notes

  • Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling that blends perfectly.
  • Crush graham crackers finely for a more compact and sturdy crust that holds together well.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs.
  • Gently fold egg mixture to prevent over-mixing, which can cause cracks in the cheesecake bars.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 314 kcal
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 156 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 82 mg
Samantha Lee

Samantha Lee

Recipe Developer & Content Creator

Expertise

Plant-based and vegetarian recipes, Recipe testing and development, Food blogging and digital content creation, Culinary education and workshops​

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute (Portland, OR)

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Emphasized plant-based cooking, global cuisines, and recipe testing methodologies.​

Samantha sees cooking like painting, every fresh herb, every juicy tomato, a new splash of color on a canvas.
After graduating from Oregon Culinary Institute, she blended her love of global cuisines and plant-based cooking into recipes that feel fresh, fearless, and full of heart.
Samantha’s kitchen is a place where comfort food gets a modern remix and every meal feels like a little adventure. When she’s not cooking, she’s out exploring farmers’ markets, sketching new recipe ideas, or getting her hands dirty in a community garden.

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