Blackberry Cheesecake Bars with Lemon Zest
Indulge in the perfect balance of sweet and tangy with these irresistible Blackberry Cheesecake Bars with Lemon Zest a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Creamy, velvety cheesecake is layered over a buttery crust and swirled with juicy blackberry goodness, then finished with a hint of fresh lemon zest for a bright, refreshing twist.
Ingredients
- For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- For the Blackberry Swirl:
- ½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare crust by mixing graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press into baking pan and bake 8–10 minutes. Cool slightly.
- Step 2: Cook blackberries with sugar and lemon juice for 3–5 minutes until thickened. Mash and set aside to cool.
- Step 3: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and flour. Mix until creamy.
- Step 4: Pour cheesecake filling over crust. Drop blackberry mixture on top and swirl with a toothpick.
- Step 5: Bake 25–30 minutes until edges are set and center is slightly jiggly. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate 2 hours.
- Step 6: Slice into 12 bars and serve chilled.