Strawberry Cheesecake Bars – Easy Creamy (Graham Cracker Crust)

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Strawberry cheesecake bars with graham cracker crust and strawberry swirl cut into squares

These strawberry cheesecake bars are creamy, dreamy, and perfect when you want cheesecake without the fuss of a springform pan. You get a buttery graham cracker crust, a thick cheesecake layer, and a bright strawberry swirl that makes every slice look bakery-pretty.

Cheesecake Without the Stress

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Classic cheesecake is delicious, but it can feel like a project. These strawberry cheesecake bars are the easy shortcut: bake in a simple square pan, chill, then slice into neat little bars.

The standout tip is using room temperature cream cheese and mixing just until smooth. Overmixing adds too much air, which can lead to cracks. And yes—chilling overnight makes them even better.

Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

  • Easy dessert bars: No water bath and no springform pan.
  • Creamy and thick: Classic cheesecake texture in bar form.
  • Pretty swirl: Strawberry topping makes them look fancy fast.
  • Great for parties: Slices cleanly into a big batch.
  • Make-ahead friendly: Better after chilling.
  • Customizable: Swap the fruit swirl or crust.

Ingredients for Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients for strawberry cheesecake bars including graham crumbs, cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, and strawberry jam
Pantry crust + creamy filling + jam swirl for the easiest party dessert

Crust

  • Graham cracker crumbs (1 1/2 cups): Classic buttery base.
  • Granulated sugar (2 tablespoons): Light sweetness.
  • Unsalted butter (6 tablespoons, melted): Holds crust together.

Cheesecake Filling

  • Cream cheese (16 ounces, room temperature): Creamy base.
  • Granulated sugar (1/2 cup): Sweetens.
  • Sour cream (1/2 cup): Adds tang and smoothness. Plain yogurt works too.
  • Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Flavor.
  • Eggs (2 large, room temperature): Structure.
  • Pinch of salt: Makes flavors pop.

Strawberry Swirl

  • Strawberry jam (1/2 cup): Easiest swirl.
  • Lemon juice (1 teaspoon): Brightens strawberry flavor.

How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Four-panel collage showing crust, mixing cheesecake, swirling jam, and sliced bars
Press, mix, swirl, bake, chill, slice
  • 1. Preheat and prep: Heat oven to 325°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment.
  • 2. Press the crust: Mix crust ingredients, press firmly, bake 10 minutes.
  • 3. Beat the filling: Beat cream cheese + sugar smooth. Beat in sour cream + vanilla. Mix in eggs on low just until combined.
  • 4. Pour: Pour filling over crust and smooth.
  • 5. Swirl: Stir jam + lemon, dollop on top, swirl gently.
  • 6. Bake: Bake 35–45 minutes until edges set and center slightly jiggles.
  • 7. Chill: Cool, then refrigerate at least 4 hours (overnight best) before slicing.

Tips for Perfect Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

  • Room temp cream cheese: Prevents lumps.
  • Mix gently after eggs: Helps avoid cracks.
  • Don’t overbake: Slight jiggle is perfect.
  • Chill before slicing: Clean squares every time.
  • Parchment overhang: Easy lift-out.

Variations & Substitutions

  • Raspberry swirl: Swap strawberry jam for raspberry jam.
  • Cookie crust: Use crushed vanilla wafers or chocolate cookies.
  • Chocolate chips: Fold in 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.

Make-Ahead & Freezing

  • Fridge: 4–5 days covered.
  • Freezer: Up to 2 months (wrap well). Thaw overnight in fridge.
  • Make-ahead: Best made the day before.

Serving Suggestions & Pairings

  • Fresh strawberries
  • Whipped cream
  • Coffee or tea

Reader Review: So creamy and the strawberry swirl made them look fancy. I loved how easy they were!

If you make these strawberry cheesecake bars, leave a rating and comment. Do you like lots of swirl, or just a little?

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