Want homemade cheesecake with less fuss? These cheesecake bar recipes are the answer!
Easy Cheesecake Bars to Make
Cheesecake is one of those desserts that everyone seems to love. It’s rich, creamy, and a little bit decadent. But it can also be a little bit time consuming to make from scratch. That’s why these homemade cheesecake bar recipes are the perfect solution!
These bars are easy to make, and they taste just as good as regular cheesecake. With flavors like lemon, Oreos, cherry, Nutella, and more, there’s sure to be something for everyone. So if you’re looking for a delicious dessert that won’t take too long to prepare, then these cheesecake bars are definitely worth trying out!
Tips for Making Cheesecake Bars
Before we get to the recipes, let’s first talk a little about making cheesecake bars. I’ve made plenty of them over the years and learned a lot in doing so. These are some general tips that apply to most all cheesecake bars. If there are helpful tips for specific recipes I share, then you’ll find more tips with the recipes when you follow the links.
- Bring the cream cheese to room temperature so that it will mix better more thoroughly and easily. Lumpy cheesecake batter is almost always because the cream cheese was too cold. It should take about 30 minutes to get your cream cheese to the right temperature, but that can vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
- Be cautious with substitutions. I always use regular cream cheese. If you want to use low-fat or fat-free, then just know that you won’t get the same result in either flavor and texture.
- Measure accurately. That’s true with any baking recipe, so it’s always worth a reminder.
- For baked fillings, “set” means no jiggle in the center. Pay attention to the directions to know if you’re baking until set or almost set. Sometimes you’ll do the pick test to check for doneness, but that’s not always reliable if there’s a swirl or other addition to the filling.
- Don’t over-mix the batter. This applies to both baked and no-bake fillings. Too much mixing for baked cheesecake bars will incorporate too much air, and your bars may rise too much and then crack as they deflate. Too much for a no-bake filling and your whipped cream will deflate, making it difficult or even impossible for your filling to set.
- Chill the finished bars thoroughly before serving. The recipe will often tell you how long to chill them. If it’s not specified, I’d suggest at least 4 hours.
- Use a sharp knife for clean slices. If necessary, wipe off the knife between cuts. Dipping the knife in hot water and then wiping it off before making your slices can help, too.
How to Store Cheesecake Bars
Always keep cheesecake bars refrigerated. You can usually keep them well-covered in their original pan or in an airtight container. Keep the bars toward the back of your refrigerator where it’s coldest. They’ll usually keep anywhere from 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator, but check the specifics of the recipe you’re making for recommended storage.
You can also store baked cheesecake bars in the freezer. After cooling and chilling, I recommend wrapping each bar in plastic wrap and then placing them inside a freezer-safe container or bag. Stored properly, they can last up to 3 months in the freezer, but that can vary based on the ingredients used. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
You can also freeze no-bake cheesecake bars, although they don’t freeze quite as well. I prefer to place one or two servings in an airtight container instead of attempting to freeze large portions together. Frozen no-bake cheesecake bars will theoretically keep for quite a while, but they’ll be at their best within a month or so. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.
Again, check the recipe you’re making for more specific information concerning storage.
Delicious Cheesecake Bar Recipes
These are some of BoB's best and most popular cheesecake bars. You'll find a variety of flavors here. And you'll also find both baked and no-bake recipes for plenty of variety. I hope you'll be inspired to make something delicious!
What better place to start than with a no-fuss vanilla version? I have a long-standing love of these Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars. They have such wonderful vanilla flavor! Enjoy them just as they are, or add fresh fruit, whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate, or another of your favorite toppings.
These Pecan Cheesecake Bars are about as easy as cheesecake bars get. With a short list of ingredients and a quick prep time, this is a great recipe to have in your baking repertoire.
Combining smooth, creamy cheesecake with apples, cinnamon, and caramel is pretty magical. These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are sure to be a favorite dessert all through apple season!
With a graham cracker crust, sweet cheesecake filling, and little bits of chocolate chip cookie dough in each bar, these decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars will become your new favorite dessert! Drizzled with chocolate for that ultimate over-the-top treat, you won't be able to get enough!
Cherry-topped cheesecake is a classic, and these Cherry Cheesecake Bars are my ode to that wonderful dessert. And there is no canned cherry pie filling here! Fresh cherries are in order for these delightful bars.
You won't be able to stop at just one bite of these delicious Caramel Cream Cheese Bars! A shortbread crust, gooey caramel, and sweet cheesecake come together in the best way possible for a dessert that you'll want on repeat.
I'm a big, big fan of Nutella. Add that to cheesecake, and I'm so there. These Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars are so, so good. And they're so pretty, too!
Lemon lovers will delight in these Limoncello Cheesecake Bars. They've got a buttery biscotti crust and so much lemony filling!
Everyone loves cookies and cream treats, right? Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars feature an Oreo crust, plenty of those cookies in the no-bake filling, plus some little ones on top to make them extra eye-catching. A crowd-pleaser for sure!
Fresh cranberries have a pretty narrow window of availability, but these Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars are made with dried cranberries. That makes them a year-round treat! The crust mixture also doubles as a crumb topping to surround that sweet, cranberry-studded cheesecake filling.
These Spiced Cheesecake Bars were inspired by an abiding love of Biscoff cookies. The crust is made from those spiced cookies, and the filling is jam-packed with spices, too.
Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars are a peanut butter lovers' dream. The crust is one big peanut butter cookie, and the no-bake cheesecake filling has plenty of peanut butter, too. I can't resist a little layer of chocolate in there, too. And if you're so inclined to take the extra time, those tiny peanut butter cookies on top are just adorable!
The combination of cheesecake and dulce de leche is really just brilliant. These Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars are a long-time favorite. They're a bit gooey and messy, but they're so good you won't mind a bit.
Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Bars are a little off the beaten path of cheesecake bars. The bottom layer is a thin pound cake topped with fresh strawberries. That's topped with a simple no-bake cheesecake with a hint of lemon. Top with sweetened whipped cream and more strawberries for a delightful (and pretty!) treat.
4 Comments on “14 Crave-Worthy Cheesecake Bars”
Why are cheese bars always flat?
Hi, Fifi. I’m not sure I know what you mean. Most cheesecake bars will be smooth and flat on top.
can you substitute chopped walnuts or almonds instead of the pecans?
Hi, Dolores! For any recipe with nuts added, you can almost always substitute a different nut.