Blueberry Lemon Bliss Cheesecake Bars
Sweet, juicy blueberries are bursting out of these lemon cheesecake shortbread bars! What a perfect combination!
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Keyword: bars, blueberry, blueberry filling, cream cheese, lemon, shortbread crust
Servings: 9 large Servings
Calories:
Author: Kim Lange
Shortbread Crust
- 1 ¼ cup butter room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
Blueberry Filling
- 2 cups blueberries fresh
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cheesecake Filling
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
Shortbread Crust
Combine 1 tablespoon lemon zest with 1/2 cup granulated sugar and using fingers, rub the zest into the sugar to infuse the sugar with lemon.
In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar and lemon zest on medium speed until well incorporated and creamy.
Beat in flour and salt until combined.
Press shortbread dough into bottom of prepared pan and bake until edges are golden, 25-30 minutes.
Blueberry Filling
In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries with brown sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, and lemon juice and cook over medium heat, until berries are just soft, 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After berries are soft, set aside to cool. They should thicken up some.
Cheesecake Filling
Combine 1 tablespoon lemon juice with 1/2 cup sugar and using fingers or fork, mix together to infuse the sugar with lemon.
Beat cream cheese with the sugar/lemon mixture and vanilla in a large bowl on medium speed until smooth.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated.
Putting it all together
Dollop cream cheese mixture onto warm crust and spread to make an even layer.
Dollop blueberry mixture over top of cream cheese layer and gently use a knife tip through the top to create some random swirls.
Bake in oven until filling is set, 30-40 minutes.
Let cool and cut into bars, if you can wait that long. :)
Substitutions & Options
- Fresh Blueberry Options: If you don't want to make the blueberry filling, you could use canned blueberry pie filling, but I would still add in some random fresh blueberries and some lemon zest, for a pop of fresh.
- If you want thicker cheesecake bars, use an 8x8 pan.