Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars
Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars are a delightful treat with a graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and a strawberry topping. The process involves baking the cheesecake, preparing a fresh strawberry filling, and drizzling white chocolate on top. After refrigerating, the bars are cut into portions, filled with the strawberry mixture, and chilled again for a deliciously layered and indulgent snack.
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups crushed Graham Crackers equivalent to 12 full Graham Crackers
- ½ cup melted Butter
Cheesecake
- 16 oz Cream Cheese at room temperature
- ¾ cup Sugar
- ½ cup Full-Fat Sour Cream
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Eggs at room temperature
Strawberry Filling
- 1 cup Strawberries Fresh or Frozen, Defrosted
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 3 tbsp + 1 tsp Water
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
Topping
- ¼ cup White Chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine crushed graham crackers and melted butter. Pour the mixture into the lined 9×9 dish and press it evenly with the bottom of a measuring cup to create a uniform crust. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract; mix for another minute. On low speed, add eggs one at a time. Once incorporated, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the crust. Bake for 40-45 minutes. The center should still have a slight jiggle. Allow it to cool on the counter, then cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Before cutting the cheesecake, prepare the strawberry filling. Blend strawberries, sugar, and 3 tbsp of water for 30 seconds. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a pot. In a small bowl, create a slurry by mixing 1 tsp of water with cornstarch. Whisk into the pot. Heat on medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Pull cheesecake from the refrigerator and transfer the cheesecake from the pan and parchment paper to a cutting board. Cut it into 6 equal bars. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the center for the strawberry filling, leaving some cheesecake on the ends for support.
- Fill the scooped-out part with the strawberry mixture. You can spoon it in or use a pastry bag or Ziplock bag for precision.
- Allow the filled cheesecakes to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to let the filling set.
- In a small bowl, microwave white chocolate chips for 20 seconds (stirring in between) until melted. Transfer the melted chocolate to a Ziplock bag, cut the tip, and drizzle it over the set cheesecakes.
Notes
After the cheesecake chill (step 8) you can cut the bars into half or thirds for a bite size serving. Drizzle with white chocolate after cutting. Clean knife in-between cuts for a clean cut.