Strawberry Cheesecake Bars (Print Version)

Creamy cheesecake bars with fresh strawberries and buttery cinnamon streusel topping. Perfect for sharing.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheesecake Layer

05 - 16 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream

→ Strawberry Topping

10 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
11 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
12 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch

→ Cinnamon Streusel

14 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
15 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
17 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until combined. Press mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and sour cream until fully incorporated. Pour over the baked crust and smooth the top.
04 - In a small bowl, toss strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Spoon evenly over the cheesecake layer.
05 - In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a fork or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the strawberry layer.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the center is just set and the streusel is golden brown. Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before slicing into bars.
07 - Lift bars out using the parchment paper, cut into 16 equal squares, and serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The bars slice cleanly and hold their shape, making them ideal for potlucks or gift boxes.
  • You get four distinct textures in one bite: buttery crust, silky cheesecake, jammy fruit, and crumbly topping.
  • They taste fancy but come together with pantry staples and zero fancy equipment.
02 -
  • Cold butter is essential for the streusel, if its too soft, youll end up with a paste instead of crumbs.
  • Dont skip the chilling time or the bars will be too soft to slice cleanly and the flavors wont have time to meld.
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry between cuts to get the cleanest, most professional-looking slices.
  • Let the cream cheese sit out for at least an hour before you start, room temperature cream cheese beats smooth in half the time and never leaves lumps.
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