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Easy Patriotic Star-Spangled Cheesecake Bars

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These festive cheesecake bars are easy to make, featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy vanilla cheesecake filling, and topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries for a perfect 4th of July dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced
  • Fresh blueberries
  • Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup sugar, and melted butter. Stir until evenly moistened.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  4. Bake crust for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden. Remove and let cool.
  5. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy (2-3 minutes).
  6. Add ⅔ cup sugar and beat until combined.
  7. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  8. Mix in vanilla extract and sour cream until smooth and fully incorporated. Do not overmix.
  9. Pour cheesecake batter over cooled crust and spread evenly.
  10. Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 35-40 minutes, until edges are set but center jiggles slightly.
  11. Turn off oven and leave cheesecake bars inside with door slightly open for 30 minutes to cool gradually.
  12. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
  13. Cut into star shapes using a star-shaped cookie cutter.
  14. Arrange stars on a serving platter and decorate with fresh strawberries and blueberries.
  15. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients to avoid lumps. Do not overmix the batter to prevent cracks. Bake at a low temperature (325°F) and cool gradually in the oven with the door slightly open to prevent cracking. Chill cheesecake bars overnight before cutting stars for clean edges. If no star cutter is available, cut into squares or rectangles. Fresh berries are preferred over frozen for topping.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesecake bars, patriotic dessert, 4th of July dessert, star-shaped cheesecake, summer dessert, easy cheesecake bars

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/easy-patriotic-star-spangled-cheesecake-bars-recipe-perfect-for-4th-of-july/