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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Appetizer and Party Recipes

Easy Cheesecake Bars

Updated: May 1, 2024 ยท Published: Feb 11, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 4 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemonโ€”the quick small-batch recipe you need with great-tasting cheesecake bars.

Real baked cheesecake bars, not a "no-bake" version, with about the same work. Dense and creamy New York Cheesecake in a bar. Now you can have great cheesecake without the fuss.

๐ŸฅฃIngredients

Cream cheeseโ€”room temperature
Sugar
Sour cream
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Lemon juiceโ€”add zest if using fresh
Crustโ€”Graham crackers, powdered sugar, butter, cinnamon

Cheesecake bars on a blue plate.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸฅฃIngredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cheesecake Barsโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • โœ”๏ธTips to make them right every time
  • Other snack bars and cheesecake recipes
  • โฌ†๏ธHow to make a double recipe
  • โ„๏ธStorage of leftovers
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Pro Tips
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

This delicious New York Cheesecake Bar recipe is easy to make with minimal work or skill and has a wonderful buttery homemade Graham cracker crust in about an hour.

This small-batch cheesecake bar recipe is perfect for smaller gatherings or family desserts. It makes 12 squares or easily doubles in a 9 by 13 pan for larger needs.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Cheesecake Barsโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

cream cheese with eggs and ingredients for bars.
This image is for a double recipe.

Allow the cream cheese to rest at room temperature for several hours before starting. Preheat oven to 375ยฐ.

baking pan lined with crossing sheets of parchment paper.

Prepare an 8 by 8 or 6 by 9 baking dish by lining it with parchment paper. Use two sheets and cut to fit in a crossing pattern. Use dots of butter in the corners of the dish to help them stay down. They need to hang over a little since you need them to remove the bars from the pan.

crushing graham crackers in bag with a glass.

Crush 8 sheets of Graham crackers. Add 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, ยผ teaspoon cinnamon, and โ…› teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter. Mix to combine. Melt 5 tablespoons butter and add.

pressing crust into prepared pan with bottom of a glass.

Mix well and press into the bottom of the prepared dish and allow to run up the side about ยผ inch. Bake for 8-10 minutes to firm up. When done baking the crust, decrease the oven temperature to 325ยฐ.

beating cream cheese with sugar in a glass bowl with an electric mixer.

With a hand mixer or stand mixer, combine 1 pound of cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Add 3 eggs, ยผ cup sour cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add optional lemon juice if using it at this point. Mix well.

pouring batter into prepared pan with crust.

Pour into a baking dish.

baked cheesecake bars in pan showing browning edge with shimming center.

Bake for 30-40 minutes until the edge is set and just starting to brown some. The center will still appear soft. You can check the temperature; it should be 180ยฐ, about one inch from the edge.

Cheesecake bar in a hand.

Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator until cold. Cut with a large sharp knife and run under hot water for clean slices.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

โœ”๏ธTips to make them right every time

The lemon juice is optional. If you use a fresh lemon, add some zest.

Be sure to use parchment paper, or you will destroy the cheesecake bars trying to get them out of the pan.

Serve topped with whipped cream or fresh fruit.

Other snack bars and cheesecake recipes

Not quit the bars you want? Check out our popular Easy Lemon Bars or tasty Blueberry Cream Cheese Bars.

And check out the other cheesecake recipes, like Cream Cheese Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, and Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake.

โฌ†๏ธHow to make a double recipe

  1. Use the recipe card and adjust the servings from 12 to 24.
  2. Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโ€”those do not adjust.
  3. A double recipe fits nicely in a 9 by 13 baking dish.
  4. A double batch will take about 10 minutes longer to bake.

Save this recipe!

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โ„๏ธStorage of leftovers

Store refrigerated covered for up to 3 days.

To freeze, place cold pieces on a tray in the freezer for an hour, then remove and double wrap them back into the freezer in a zip-lock freezer bag for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

โ“FAQs

Are baked cheesecakes better than no-bake cheesecakes?

Yes, in my opinion. Baked cheesecakes have a smooth texture denser than no-bake ones that can not match. No-bake cheesecakes have more of a mousse texture. But both have great taste.

Outside of the baking step, the work is about the same.

How do you make smooth cuts in cheesecake bars?

The cheesecake needs to be very cold. Use a long, sharp knife. Heat it under hot water and dry it. Make long cuts across the whole cake. Whip the blade clean after each cutโ€”reheat and clean with hot water if needed.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

101's Best Recipes, Appetizer and Party Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

Note: all pictures are for a double batch. All instructions and the recipe card are for a single batch.

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions

Cheesecake bars on a blue plate.

Easy Cheesecake Bars

4.39 from 18 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Theseย Easy Cheesecake Barsย are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemonโ€”the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjustable :12
Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
Crust
  • 8 sheets graham crackers
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • ยผ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 5 tablespoons butter
  • โ…› teaspoon salt - only if using unsalted butter
Batter
  • 1 pound cream cheese
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ยผ cup sour cream
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice - optional

Step-by-Step Instructions
 

  • Allow the cream cheese to rest at room temperature for several hours before starting. Preheat oven to 375ยฐ. Image of ingredients if for a double recipe.
    cream cheese with eggs and ingredients for bars
  • Prepare an 8 by 8 or 6 by 9 baking dish by lining it with parchment paper. Use two sheets and cut them to fit in a crossing pattern. Use dots of butter in the corners of the dish to help them stay down. They need to hang over a little since you need them to remove the bars from the pan.
    baking pan lined with crossing sheets of parchment paper
  • Crush 8 sheets of Graham crackers. Add 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, ยผ teaspoon cinnamon, and โ…› teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter. Mix to combine. Melt 5 tablespoons butter and add.
    crushing graham crackers in bag with a glass
  • Mix well and press into the bottom of the prepared dish and allow to run up the side about ยผ inch. Bake for 8-10 minutes to firm up. When done baking the crust, decrease the oven temperature to 325ยฐ.
    pressing crust into prepared pan with bottom of a glass
  • With a hand mixer or stand mixer, combine 1 pound of cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Add 3 eggs, ยผ cup sour cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add optional lemon juice if using it at this point. Mix well.
    beating cream cheese with sugar in a glass bowl with an electric mixer
  • Pour into the baking dish.
    pouring batter into prepared pan with crust
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes until the edge is set and just starting to brown some. The center will still appear soft. You can check the temperature; it should be 180ยฐ about one inch from the edge.
    baked cheesecake bars in pan showing browning edge with shimming center
  • Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator until cold. Cut with a large sharp knife and run under hot water for clean slices.
    cheesecake bars on a blue plate

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. This uses an 8X8 pan but 6X9 will be fine.
  2. A double recipe fits in a cake pan size dish of 9X13. This will take about 10 minutes longer to cook.
  3. Your cooking time will vary by your oven and the pan used so watch for the end-points.
  4. This works much better if the eggs and cream cheese are at room temperature.
  5. It will be near impossible to get out of the pan in good shape without the parchment paper. I like to use longer pieces of paper so I can lift it out of the pan when done.
  6. A few dots of butter in the pan will hold the parchment in place and prevent shifting while you assemble this.
  7. Great to top it with a little fruit of your choice or whipped cream.
  8. Cool at room temperature first helps prevent cracking.
  9. Good refrigerated covered for about 3 days and frozen for 3 months.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.

To adjust the recipe size:

You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.

Nutrition Estimate (may vary)

Calories : 323 kcal (16%)Carbohydrates : 28 g (9%)Protein : 5 g (10%)Fat : 20 g (31%)Saturated Fat : 12 g (60%)Polyunsaturated Fat : 1 gMonounsaturated Fat : 1 gCholesterol : 86 mg (29%)Sodium : 255 mg (11%)Potassium : 35 mg (1%)Fiber : 0.4 g (2%)Sugar : 22 g (24%)Vitamin A : 700 IU (14%)Vitamin C : 0 mgCalcium : 40 mg (4%)Iron : 0.5 mg (3%)
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 8X8 cheescake bars, Easy cheese cake bars, small batch cheesecake bars

This is a small-batch version of one of the internet's most common cheesecake bar recipes. It is adapted from the King Arthur version with expanded detail and a few adjustments.

Editor's Note: Originally Published April 4, 2017. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

dogs with purple puppy.

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  1. Melanie says

    November 12, 2023 at 11:17 am

    Can I use a pre-made Graham cracker crust?

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      November 12, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      Hi Melanie,

      Welcome to the blog.

      Yep, it will work fine.

      Dan

  2. Jan D says

    March 02, 2023 at 9:43 pm

    How many 8-ounce packages are in one pound?

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      March 02, 2023 at 10:10 pm

      Hi Jan,

      Welcome to the blog. I think you are looking at the image of ingredients which is for a double recipe (count the eggs) and should have been labeled as suchโ€”fixed.

      Thanks for pointing that out.

      Dan

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
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