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Easy Patriotic Star-Spangled Cheesecake Bars

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Festive and creamy cheesecake bars with red, white, and blue swirls perfect for patriotic celebrations. Quick and easy to make with simple ingredients and a buttery graham cracker crust.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sheets)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup fresh strawberries, pureed
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries, pureed
  • Optional: a few drops of natural red and blue food coloring

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Mix until evenly moistened. Press firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.
  3. Puree strawberries and blueberries separately until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar until creamy and smooth (2-3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, beating gently between each addition.
  5. Mix in vanilla extract and sour cream until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  6. Divide the batter into three parts: one plain, one mixed with strawberry puree, and one mixed with blueberry puree.
  7. Spoon dollops of plain, strawberry, and blueberry batter alternately onto the crust. Use a toothpick or skewer to gently swirl the colors into a star-spangled pattern without over-swirl.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes until edges are set but center jiggles slightly.
  9. Cool completely on a wire rack for at least an hour, then chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight.
  10. Use parchment paper overhang to lift cheesecake from pan. Cut into squares with a sharp knife, wiping blade clean between cuts.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients to avoid lumps. Do not overmix to prevent cracks. Use a light hand when swirling purees to keep distinct colors. Cool gradually before chilling to avoid cracks. Warm knife in hot water for clean slices.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesecake bars, patriotic dessert, Fourth of July dessert, star-spangled cheesecake, easy cheesecake bars, festive dessert, red white and blue dessert

Find it online: https://snappyspoon.com/easy-patriotic-star-spangled-cheesecake-bars-recipe-for-perfect-festive-celebrations/