Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
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If you love cheesecake, you’ll love lemon blueberry cheesecake bars! I love cheesecake. It’s my favorite pie…or is it a cake? I’m never really sure where it falls in the cake-pie genre. I think lemon and blueberries are a happy combination. The tartness of lemon and the sweet blueberries are just the right combination in the creamy cheesecake filling. The blueberry swirl could just as easily be raspberry or blackberry! (This post was originally published on January 21, 2014)
Ingredients for lemon cheesecake bars
Crust
- 1 cup ground graham cracker crumbs or gingersnap cookies.
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted cold butter, melted
Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 pound Philadelphia cream cheese or reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 extra large eggs
Blueberry Sauce
If you can’t find fresh berries, substitute frozen.
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons water
How to make blueberry lemon cheesecake bars
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 8″ X 8″ square pan with foil or parchment paper, with ends extending over the sides for easy removal after baking.
- In a food processor, pulse graham crackers or gingersnap cookies to fine crumbs. Mix crumbs, 3 Tablespoons sugar and melted butter.
- Press mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
- Mean while prepare blueberry sauce.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and zest on medium speed.
- Add sour cream, mix well. Scrape down sides. Add eggs, mixing just until blended.
- Pour cream cheese mixture over prepared crust.
- Drop spoonfuls of blueberry sauce over cheesecake layer.
- Run a knife or chopstick through sauce for swirl effect. Bake cheesecake at 325 degrees F. for 30-35 minutes, or until center is nearly set. Cool.
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.
Fresh Blueberry Sauce
- Pulse berries, 2 Tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice and water in a food processor about 1 minute, until berries are finely chopped.
- Heat in a small saucepan over medium low heat until sugar is dissolved and sauce is deep purple and shiny, about 2-3 minutes.
Variations
To make a raspberry, strawberry or blackberry swirl bars, follow the recipe for the blueberry sauce and adjust the sugar according to the sweetness of your berries.
Looking for more dessert bars?
Carmelita Bars are a 60s classic with an oat base, caramel, chocolate and nuts.
Grandma’s 7 Layer Bars are another vintage recipe from the 60s.
Love a lemon dessert?
Here are some of my favorite citrus and lemon recipes.
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Cheesecake Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar (3.5 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 4 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 3 large eggs
Blueberry Sauce
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 8" X 8" baking pan with foil or parchment paper, with ends extending over the sides for easy removal after baking.
- Mix crumbs, 3 Tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
- Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of sugar, lemon juice and zest in a large mixing bowl fitted with paddle. Add sour cream, mix well. Scrape down sides. Add eggs, mixing just until blended.
- Pour batter over prepared crust. Drop spoonfuls of blueberry sauce over batter and run a knife or chopstick through sauce for swirl effect.
- Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30-35 minutes, or until center is nearly set. Cool.
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Store in refrigerator.
Blueberry Sauce
- Pulse berries, 2 Tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice and water in a food processor about 1 minute, until berries are finely chopped.
- Heat in a small saucepan over medium low heat until sugar is dissolved and sauce is deep purple and shiny, about 2-3 minutes.
Notes
- I used gluten free gingersnap cookies, but regular cookies would work just as well.
These look amazing! pinned!
Thank you Shamene!
These look TO DIE FOR Cynthia. I was unaware of National blueberry Cheesecake Day. This recipe will be perfect to celebrate with. Sure do love blueberries and lemon.
Thanks Allie! I think blueberries and lemon are a great combination! It seems as though there’s a national day for everything!
Thank you Allie! I think there’s a day for just about everything!
Pie, cake, bars, I don’t care what you call it, I love it! Your blueberry swirl sounds magnificent…what a delicious treat. xo, Catherine
Haha Catherine! Thank you!
oooh, these look luscious and I imagine you could use fresh cherries, peaches, apricots or lots of other fruits in the blueberries’ place too! great recipe!
Yes, any type of fruit would be great!
Cynthia, these are totally my kind of dessert. I’m digging these right now!
Thank you Kristi! My favorite dessert is cheesecake, this just sends it over the top!
Love the pretty swirled top.
Thanks sylvie! It would be delicious (and pretty) with other fruits too!
I love cheesecake – this looks amazing!
Thank you Megan!
You had me at lemon … and cheesecake … and blueberry! And that sauce? I think I could slather it on anything!
So, so pretty. My hand just wants to reach through the screen and nab one off your plate. Maybe I’ll just nab the WHOLE plate. Who me?
Great dessert for summer entertaining, office parties, potlucks – fresh, fun & festive!
These look soooo good and easy enough for a non-baker like me! Would be easy for me to eat the whole pan, too!
lol Carol! that’s the problem around here too!
Wow, these look amazing! I am so making these. I have a bunch of fresh blueberries waiting to be dessert!
I’ve got my eye on that blueberry sauce, I love how rich it looks, but sounds so simple to make.
Steph, yes easy and perfect for pancakes or ice cream too!
So pretty! That blueberry swirl is amazing!
Thank you susan!
What a pretty cheesecake! That swirl really makes it special, and I love the use of gingersnap crumbs here!
Thank you Faith!
Yum! I could totally enjoy that blueberry sauce on waffles or ice cream!
Yep! I think we might have topped our pancakes with it the next morning! I like having fruit sauces as a change from chocolate!
These look just scrumptious, Cynthia! I absolutely love the blueberry sauce, and how nice with the lemon juice.
Blueberry sauce is so good! Will make this again!
This was such a sweet and savory recipe that does not disappoint! Light, fluffy and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!
Huge hit at our recent family get together! Love this flavor combo!!!
I am a real cheesecake fan so I had to make these bars and they didn’t dissapoint. Loved the blueberry flavour too.
thank you!
The combination of lemon and blueberry was amazing. I will definitely be making these again.