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Mixed Berry Cheesecake Crumb Bars

Mixed berry cheesecake crumb bars with creamy swirl and golden topping.

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These bars combine a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet-tart mixed berry filling, a creamy cheesecake layer, and a crumbly topping. They are an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that looks impressive but comes together simply with common ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Crust & Crumble Topping:
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Berry Filling:
  • 4 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
  • For the Cheesecake Layer:
  • 8 ounces (1 block) full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or line with parchment paper.
  2. Make the crust and crumble: In a large bowl, whisk flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in beaten egg and vanilla until dough just clumps.
  3. Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside the remaining 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
  4. Make the berry filling: In a medium bowl, gently toss berries with 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and zest. Spread evenly over the crust.
  5. Make the cheesecake layer: In another bowl, beat softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla until just combined. Dollop spoonfuls over the berry layer.
  6. Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping evenly over the cheesecake dollops. Do not press down.
  7. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until topping is golden and berry filling is bubbly at edges.
  8. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. For cleanest slices, chill in refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting.

Notes

Use cold butter for the crust. Do not skip the cornstarch in the berry filling. Let bars cool completely before cutting to prevent a messy slice. Frozen berries can be used without thawing. Store covered in refrigerator for 4-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

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