Description
Sweet and tangy Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Crunch Bars blend creamy cheesecake with zesty citrus and fruity raspberry. Crisp graham cracker layers and smooth filling promise a delightful dessert experience you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 1/2 cups cream cheese (softened)
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup raspberry preserves (or fresh raspberries, lightly mashed)
Crust and Topping Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cold butter (cubed)
Flavor and Sweetening Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Blend graham cracker crumbs with melted butter, then firmly compress into an even base layer across the pan.
- Whip cream cheese and granulated sugar until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice into the cream cheese mixture, blending thoroughly until integrated.
- Distribute raspberry preserves uniformly across the cream cheese surface, creating a vibrant fruity layer.
- Craft a crumbly topping by combining flour, brown sugar, and chilled butter cubes, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to create irregular, sandy texture.
- Delicately scatter the crumb mixture over the raspberry layer, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the surface turns golden brown and a inserted toothpick emerges clean.
- Allow the dessert to cool completely at room temperature before slicing into elegant rectangular bars.
Notes
- Crumb Topping Technique: Freeze butter for 10-15 minutes before cutting into cubes to achieve a perfectly flaky, crisp texture that elevates the bar’s overall crunch.
- Temperature Precision: Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling that blends seamlessly.
- Raspberry Swap: Experiment with other fruit preserves like blueberry or strawberry for diverse flavor variations that complement the tangy lemon base.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace graham cracker crumbs with gluten-free cookie crumbs or almond flour to make the recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg