Lemon Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars

On Facebook last week I asked you all what your favorite dessert was. The answers ranged from creme brulee to tiramisu, but a surprising number of you said your all time favorite dessert is cheesecake.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars | Neighborfoodblog.com

Guys, I have seriously failed you. Because until now, the only sign of cheesecake around these parts has been in these Blueberry Cheesecake Brownie Bars.

It’s not that I don’t love cheesecake. I really do.

It’s just that I’ve always seen my mom as the cheesecake queen.

It’s her specialty. She brings it to family reunions and church potlucks, takes it to new moms, she even made it for my wedding. At big gatherings she has to slice them into teensy slivers just to make sure there’s enough to go around. People LOVE mom’s cheesecake.

And frankly, since she’s so good at it, I’ve never really felt the need to make it myself. And, truthfully, I’ve always been scared I couldn’t live up to her cheesecake making greatness.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars | Neighborfoodblog.com

But after hearing from you all that cheesecake is one of your favorites, I decided it was finally time to shake off my doubts and get you all some cheesecake!

These cheesecake dream bars are my mom’s recipe. They’re a simpler version of her classic cheesecake and they’re made in a regular square pan instead of a spring form one, which makes them easy to transport and serve. The crust is a combination of brown sugar, flour, and nuts, and that same delicious mixture is sprinkled on top. It’s dreaaaamy.

I’m totally obsessed with The Cheesecake Factory’s Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake, so I thought I’d try adding a few things to mom’s recipe to satisfy my craving for it.

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars | Neighborfoodblog.com

This experiment ends well. Tart, sweet, crunchy, creamy. This cheesecake delivers in flavor without a lot of fuss. The crust and filling can be whipped up quickly and the swirl is simply a few dollops of raspberry jam.

So for all you cheesecake lovers, here is my gift to you! Dive in! Take a taste. I think you’re going to love this one!

Lemon Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars

Lemon Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Dream Bars

Yield: 9
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

For the crust and topping:

  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped small
  • 1/3 cup melted butter

For the filling:

  • 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tablespoon milk
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

Instructions

  • Grease an 8 x 8 inch pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour and nuts. Stir the melted butter in until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1/3 cup crumbs. Press the rest of the mixture into the bottom of the greased pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly golden on the outsides. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, beat together cream cheese and sugar until smooth. With the beaters on low speed, add the egg, milk, and lemon juice. Gradually raise the speed on the beaters, and beat until mixture is well combined.
  • Pour cream cheese mixture into baked crust.
  • Heat the raspberry jam in a heat proof bowl in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or until the jam is slightly runny. Place dollops of jam across the top of the cheesecake mixture, then use a toothpick to gently swirl it around.
  • Sprinkle the remaining nut crumble evenly over the top.
  • Bake for 25 minutes or until just barely jiggly in the center. Refrigerate leftovers.
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    11 Comments

    1. OMG!these bars are really a dream come true,creamy with raspberry swirls…we will be finishing off the whole batch in one go ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. These look wonderful!! I’m a huge fan of cheesecake, but I very rarely make it…I guess I always think that I need a special occasion for cheesecakes! I think these would be perfect for anyyyy time though ๐Ÿ™‚

    3. This looks SO good! And I’m with everybody else, cheesecake is my favorite, although I strangely never make it! I love how easily transportable these are- sharing the calories and all that, right? ๐Ÿ™‚

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