Strawberry Cheesecake Bars (Printable)

Creamy cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and cinnamon streusel. Perfect for sharing at any gathering.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang on sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until completely incorporated. Press mixture firmly and evenly across the bottom of 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 individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Incorporate vanilla extract and sour cream until fully blended. Pour mixture over baked crust and smooth the surface.
04 - In a small bowl, toss diced strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Distribute evenly over cheesecake layer.
05 - Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Cut in cold butter using a fork or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Sprinkle evenly over strawberry layer.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until center is just set and streusel turns golden brown. Allow to cool completely in pan, then refrigerate for minimum 3 hours before cutting.
07 - Using parchment overhang, lift entire dessert from pan. Cut into 16 equal squares and serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like a fancy dessert but come together in less than two hours from start to finish.
  • The layers create that satisfying mix of textures—crispy, creamy, fruity, and streusel-topped all at once.
  • They're portable and shareable, which means less time plating and more time enjoying time with people.
02 -
  • The cheesecake layer needs that full 3 hours of chilling to set properly—trying to slice it warm or after just an hour will result in a creamy mess instead of clean bars.
  • If you notice cracks forming on top while baking, tent the pan loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes to slow down the baking.
03 -
  • Use parchment paper with a slight overhang on two sides—it makes lifting the whole dessert out a breeze and prevents any sticking disasters.
  • If your strawberries are very large, dice them smaller so they distribute evenly and don't create thick spots in the topping.
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