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Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

A sweet and creamy lemon cheesecake filling bursting with blueberries sits atop a lemon shortbread crust with lemon shortbread crumbles on top.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling/Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars

Equipment

  • oven
  • mixing bowl
  • stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Baking pan

Ingredients
  

Shortbread Crust

  • 1 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1 each lemon zest from one lemon
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour be sure to measure properly

Filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 each lemon zest from one lemon
  • 2 large eggs
  • 5 ounces yogurt or sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups blueberries fresh or frozen; if using frozen, do not thaw

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Position a rack in the center position of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC).
  • Line an 8" x 8" (or 9" x 9") baking pan with foil. Leave an overhang on the sides. Set aside.

Shortbread Crust

  • Stir the melted butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and the lemon zest together in a medium bowl. Add the flour and stir until combined.
  • Reserve ¾ cup of the shortbread crust and place in the refrigerator or freezer until needed.
  • Press remaining crust evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18 minutes while you prepare the filling.

Filling

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium sized bowl with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese on high until smooth. Add the sugar and lemon zest and beat until smooth.
  • Add the eggs, and continue beating until completely incorporated. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, and salt and beat again. Finally, add the flour and beat one more time until just combined. Scrape down the sides as necessary before adding the blueberries, then gently fold in the blueberries with a large spatula.
  • Pour filling into prepared crust and add a few blueberries on top of filling. Remove reserved crust from refrigerator and crumble over top of the filling. Sprinkle with additional sugar or coarse sugar, if desired.
  • Bake bars for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool at room temperature on a wire rack. When completely cool, chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • When bars are completely chilled, lift out of the pan using foil overhang and cut into squares. Top with lemon zest before serving, if desired. Bars can be stored covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Bars freeze well, up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Notes

Yogurt or sour cream: you can use any kind of yogurt you like. I have used lemon, plain, and vanilla. I have no preference. Sour cream works great as well. Reserved crust: be sure to reserve a measured ¾ cup and not ¾ of the whole crust.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar
Keyword Bars, blueberries, Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars, cheesecake, lemon
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