Description
These Christmas Cherry Cheesecake Bars are a delightful holiday treat with a rich cheesecake filling, topped with red and green cherries on a buttery crust. They’re quick to prepare and make a festive addition to any dessert table. Easy to customize, these bars can be enjoyed all year with any fruit topping of choice.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
or the Crust:
- 1/3 cup cold salted butter, cubed
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup green candied cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup red candied cherries, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and flour. Use a pastry cutter or fork to mix until crumbly.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let it cool slightly.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Gently fold in the chopped cherries.
- Spread the filling over the cooled crust, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top.
- Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheesecake layer is set and lightly golden.
- Let the bars cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm.
- Serve: Cut into squares and serve chilled. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- For added flavor, mix 1/2 teaspoon of almond or vanilla extract into the filling.