Lemon Cheesecake Bars
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Three delicious layers, Nilla wafer crust, lemon cheesecake center and a lemon white chocolate chip cookie top. A lemon lovers dream come true!
I was fortunate to receive a whole bunch of lemons from my cousin’s tree in San Diego about a week ago. You all know how much I LOVE my lemons!
I knew they were coming, my mom and her husband spend about 6 weeks in San Diego every winter. She stops to visit her cousin, and always brings me back lemons and avocados. When I signed up to make a cheesecake for this fun round up called #SixteenCheesecakes, I decided I wanted to use some of my lemons!
Instead of a traditional cheesecake, I decided to make cheesecake bars. I had found this recipe on Pinterest a while back, and knew this was what I wanted to do!
These cheesecake bars are so good, they should be illegal! The bottom is a crust made of Nilla Wafer cookies, the middle, a perfectly creamy lemon cheesecake, and the top? … Well, the top is a lemon white chocolate chip cookie layer, that makes this all just pure lemon love.
I can’t wait any longer … let’s get on to that recipe!
—
LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!
Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 60 Nilla Wafers
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 stick butter melted
Cheesecake Layer:
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- zest of one lemon
Cookie Topping:
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cup flour
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 11 ounce package White Chocolate morsels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- To make the crust: In your food processor, pulse Vanilla Wafer cookies with sugar until fine crumbs. Add in melted butter and pulse again until combined.
- Firmly Press crumbs into the bottom of prepared baking dish.
- To make the cheesecake filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon extract and lemon zest using the whisk attachment of your stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy and smooth (about 4 minutes). Pour filling over Vanilla wafer crust.
- To make the cookie dough: Beat butter and sugar for 2 minutes. Add in egg, vanilla and lemon zest and beat once again until combined. Add in baking powder, salt and flour, mixing until incorporated. Fold in white chocolate morsels. Using your fingers, grab small portions of dough, and flatten with your fingers, placing over the top of the cheesecake layer. Continue until covered completely.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until top is lightly browned. The center will still be kind of jiggly. Allow to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). Slice and serve chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
—
What is #SixteenCheesecakes ?
Last year Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla rallied some blogging friends to help her celebrate her 15th wedding anniversary. She was only looking for fifteen cheesecake recipes. But we posted waaaaaay more than #FifteenCheesecakes.
oh my…..I can almost taste the tart sweet goodness of these bars.
I cannot believe how much I want one of these right now, Michaela. Oh, my. Lemon + cheesecake. I can’t wait to try these.
I’m so glad you like them! Happy Anniversary!
Oh wow! Just love that cookie layer on top!
I absolutely love lemon! You know I’ll be all over these!
Please, please, please send me some yummy lemons!!!!
This sounds absolutely fantastic and it’s going on my must make list for next week!! I do have some lemons setting on the counter that need used 😛
The fresh ones she brings me are so amazing! I hope you love these too!!
Love the idea of cheesecake bars! And lemon is so perfect for this time of year!
Thanks Amy!
These look so delicious. I love the lemon in desserts like cheesecakes. It makes them so light and refreshing.
The vanilla wafer crust sounds fabulous. I love me some lemons, too, so this is on the next baking day list.
Thanks! These were a hit at our house!
Love lemon desserts. Just says Springtime! Beautiful
I love lemon desserts. This sounds spectacular!
Looks amazing! I love lemon desserts.
I just hope my Meyer Lemon tree makes lots of lemons this year, cause I think I need to make this dessert.