These lemon cheesecake bars are the best with a graham cracker crust and streusel topping, creamy cheesecake center, and the sweet sour combo of lemon, blueberry, and boysenberry.
After I made that delicious berry salad that I shared a couple weeks ago I knew that I needed something else spectacular to share with you to use more of the delicious berries that I had left. We also had a plethora of lemons still from when I bought them to make this rosemary lemonade. It’s not like having extra berries and lemons is a bad thing, but fresh berries don’t last too long and I didn’t want to end up freezing them, so in came this cheesecake. Blueberry and lemon are often a great flavor combination because the tartness of the lemon goes well with the sweetness of the blueberry. But I also had boysenberries leftover, so I decided to add blueberries and boysenberries to this scrumptious cheesecake. If you only decide to buy one or the other I think both would make great choices on their own as well.
These cheesecake bars are some of the best I’ve ever had. The graham cracker crust and the streusel crumb add most of the sweetness to the bars, but of course there is a little sugar in the middle cheesecake layer as well. But the crust and crumb also add a splendid texture change that some cheesecakes last. Also, fresh berries on the top of this cheesecake is a genius idea. And of course like I said before, the sweet and sour combination of these bars is stupendous.
Yum, yum, yum, these bars have such a refreshing, unique flavor but they are really to die for. I was inspired by Betty Crocker for this recipe.
Blueberry and Boysenberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
For The Graham Cracker Crust:
- 10 graham crackers (20 squares)
- 2 TBS sugar
- zest from 1 lemon (about 1/2 TBS)
- 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick, melted)
For The Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- zest from 3 lemons (About 1 1/2 TBS)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup blueberries and boysenberries mixed
- 1 tsp flour
For the Streussel Topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup butter 1/2 stick
Instructions
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until they make a fine crumb.
- Add sugar and lemon zest to graham cracker crumbs and stir together.
- Pour melted butter into the graham cracker crumb and stir well.
- Press graham cracker crumb into a 9 inch square dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool partially.
For the Streusel Topping:
- Combine the streusel ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix together and press together with a fork until all ingredients are incorporated well and are crumbly.
- Set aside till ready.
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- Whip cream cheese for a couple of minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add sugar and continue to stir to combined.
- Add lemon zest and lemon juice and mix in completely.
- Pour cheesecake filling over crust.
- Coat blueberries and boysenberries in the 1 tsp of flour.
- Pour blueberries and boysenberries over the top of your filling.
- Top with streusel crumb topping.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until crumb is golden and cheesecake is mostly solid.
- Allow to cool on cooling rack for 1 hour.
- Put in fridge and allow to cool for 2 additional hours. Keep in fridge until serving.
Notes
Kristy says
For the brown sugar in the topping, do you pack it in the measuring cup?
Aimee Berrett says
Yes, I always pack my brown sugar 🙂
Aimee Berrett says
Yes, I always pack my brown sugar!
Annie says
Where ever did you find boysenberries?! My husband’s favorite pie is Boysenberry but I can only find it canned. I’m super excited to try this recipe, in fact I could go for some of these right now!
Melinda Melanson says
these are cooling as I type. I have couple questions. When is tsp flour added to cheesecake mixture and shouldn’t the cheesecake mixture have a couple eggs?
aimeeberrett says
Sorry about that! I don’t think the 1 tsp is totally necessary, I just used it to coat my blueberries and boysenberries to keep them from sinking to the bottom. And this cheesecake recipe doesn’t have eggs, though a lot do.
Let me know what you think of it!
Amber Brady says
I pinned these earlier this week. They look so yummy! We need to live closer so we can eat each others’ goodies! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #20!
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com
Winnie says
These bars look absolutely heavenly!!
I wish I could grab one or two right now and eat
aimeeberrett says
Thanks Winnie! I wish I could share one with you 🙂
Erin @ Sisters' Sweet and Tasty Temptations says
Oh-em-gee! This looks so yummy. We have fresh blueberries from my friend’s farm just begging to be put into a yummy dessert, but I might have to switch it up a bit and add black raspberries, since they are plentiful right now. Can’t wait to make it tomorrow!
aimeeberrett says
Thanks Erin! I think it would taste really delicious with blueberry and black raspberry too! Let me know how you like it 🙂
Julie @ This Gal says
Wow, these look amazing! Thank you so much for sharing at Marvelous Mondays. Pinned and sharing on social media!
Brooke @ Silver Lining says
Whyyyyyyy did I read this on Fast Sunday?? It looks SO delicious.
koreanmutt says
Oh goodness. Saving this away for a special occasion (ie when I can afford the delicious calories). Looks sooo yummy!