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Lemon blueberry cheesecake squares are smooth & creamy with a delicious lemon flavor and crunchy graham cracker crust. The blueberry sauce makes them extra special!
Oh hi there! It’s Fiona stopping in from Just So Tasty. And today we’re making these Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Squares.
I love lemon, and I love cheesecake – so I’m so excited to share this recipe with you! It’s a creamy, smooth lemon cheesecake with a crunchy graham cracker base. Then each cheesecake square is topped with blueberry sauce. The tanginess of the lemon pairs perfectly with the creaminess of the cheesecake. Then the sweet blueberry topping really takes them over the edge.
Can Cheesecake Be Made Without the Crust?
Yes! Without a crust; this is a pretty, gluten-free, dessert.
The nice thing about a crustless cheesecake is the time to make the recipe shrinks as well!
No crust to make and bake!
Now I don’t know about you, but I think lemon is one of the best fruits to bake with: the sunshine-y color, the slightly tangy flavor, and the way lemon can brighten even the dreariest of days. Plus, since lemons are available year round – you don’t need to worry about them being in season.
Are Lemons Good For You?
They are chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants, making them some of the healthiest fruits on the planet.
Lemons are a good source of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, iron, and magnesium, and are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, and copper, as well as folate and potassium.
For the lemon flavor in today’s lemon blueberry cheesecake squares, we’re going to use both lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. You’ll want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of lemon juice from the bottle – I find the bottled lemon juice can be too tart for baking and doesn’t produce the best results.
Then the fresh blueberry sauce is made by heating up blueberries, water and a little sugar in your saucepan. You can make the blueberry sauce in advance, or right before you’re about to serve your cheesecake. It’s also super delicious on waffles & pancakes too.
Are Blueberries Healthy?
Blueberries are a good source of vitamin K.
They also contain vitamin C, fibre, manganese and other antioxidants (notably anthocyanins).
Valued for its high levels of antioxidants, some nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet, it should be to add blueberries.
To make our cheesecake bars, it isn’t too difficult. However, there’s a few key tips to make sure they’re creamy & smooth.
Tips for Making Cheesecake
- Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before getting started. Your cream cheese should be soft.
- Use full-fat, brick style cream cheese for the most luxurious flavor.
- It’s important to beat your cream cheese very well until it’s super smooth. The last thing you want is big lumps in your cheesecake.
- Adding a little flour acts as insurance against cracks.
- When your cheesecake is done baking, it should still have a little wobble in the center if you gently nudge your pan.
- Cool the cheesecake slowly to prevent cracks. After it’s done baking, let it cool for about an hour in the oven with your oven turned off and the door open. Then take it out of the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- If your cheesecake ends up with a few cracks – don’t worry! You can cover them up with the blueberry sauce.
- Always chill your cheesecake before enjoying. Cover the pan in clingfilm, then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. The flavor is better after a cheesecake has chilled in the fridge.
I absolutely love combination of creamy cheesecake, tangy lemon, and sweet blueberries – and I hope you enjoy these Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Squares as much as we did!
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Squares
Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Squares
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
For the Lemon Cheesecake
- 24 Ounces Brick-Style Cream Cheese, three 8 oz packages, softened to room temperature
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Zest*
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/3 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice, use 1/4 cup if you prefer a milder lemon flavor**
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream, room temperature
- 4 Large Eggs, room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
For the Blueberry Sauce
- 3 Cups Fresh Blueberries, frozen work too
- 1/2 Cup Water, reduce to 1/3 cup if using frozen berries
- 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Make the Cheesecake
- Before getting started make sure your cream cheese, eggs and sour cream are at room temperature.
- Cream cheese can be softened more quickly by cutting into pieces and microwaving in short 15 second bursts.
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and adjust your oven rack to the center of your oven.
- Line a 9x13 inch glass pan with aluminium foil and lightly grease with non-stick cooking spray.
- Set aside.
- To make the graham cracker crust mix together the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a medium bowl.1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs, 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- Then stir in the melted butter.6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
- Pour the mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan and press the crumbs down using the bottom of a measuring cup or your palms until it covers the bottom of the pan and is packed tightly.
- Bake in your preheated oven for 8 minutes.
- Then to make your cheesecake filling, first beat the cream cheese until well softened in a large bowl using a stand or hand-held electric mixer on medium speed. It should look smooth.24 Ounces Brick-Style Cream Cheese
- Then beat in the sugar, lemon zest and vanilla extract until evenly combined.1 Cup Granulated Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Zest*, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Turn off your mixer and scrape down the sides of your bowl using rubber spatula, then carefully stir in the lemon juice and sour cream.1/3 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice, 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- Then turn the mixer back on to low speed and beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the flour. Be careful not to mix the batter too much after adding in the eggs.4 Large Eggs, 2 Tablespoons Flour
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan on top of the graham cracker crust, then smooth the top with your rubber spatula.
- Bake in the prepared oven for 40-50 minutes, or until most of the top looks set except for in the very middle and when you give the pan a nudge there's a slight wobble in the middle.
- Then turn off the oven, open the oven door about 6 inches and allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven for about 1 hour.
- Then remove from the oven and continue cooling til it reaches room temperature.
- Cover with clingfilm, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or preferable overnight.
- Make the Blueberry Sauce
- In a medium saucepan over low-medium heat - add the blueberries, water and sugar.3 Cups Fresh Blueberries, 1/2 Cup Water, 1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- Allow the mixture to gently boil while stirring gently for about 10-15 minutes.
- It's done when the blueberries soften and the mixture thickens. If your mixture seems too thick, you can add a little extra water.
- To Serve Your Cheesecake
- Remove the cheesecake from the fridge and allow to warm up for about 30 minutes.
- Then cut into squares (about 18-21, depending on size) and serve with the blueberry sauce and whipped cream (optional)
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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T
Can an egg replacement be used instead of real eggs in the lemon blueberry cheesecake bars?
I’m so sorry but eggs are essential to this turning out correctly. Great question though!