Cherry cheesecake bars
By Chatelaine18
PREP TIME
20 min
TOTAL TIME
50 min
Makes
24 bars
* PLUS 3 hours cooling time

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted
- 2 cups graham-cracker crumbs
Filling
- 3 250-g pkgs cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs , at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Topping
- 2 cups frozen cherries
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- scant 1/3 cup water
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
- PREHEAT oven to 325F. Spray a 9×13-in. metal pan with cooking spray and line with parchment to overhang on 2 sides.
- CRUST: Stir crumbs and butter in a small bowl until crumbs are moist. Press firmly and evenly into prepared pan and bake until golden, 10 min. Let cool.
- FILLING: Beat cream cheese in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-low, scraping down sides occasionally, until very smooth, 4 min. Beat in sugar until combined, 3 min. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, on low speed, scraping bowl between additions. Beat in sour cream, lemon zest and lemon juice until smooth. Pour batter over prepared crust and smooth top.
- BAKE until filling is set, 35 to 40 min. Cool on a rack for 1 hour. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Cut into bars.
- TOPPING: Stir frozen cherries, sugar, lemon juice, water and cornstarch in a medium saucepan over medium. Cook, stirring often, until mixture is thickened, 5 to 7 min. Pour into a bowl to cool. Kitchen Tip: Bars will keep in refrigerator up to 3 days, or wrap with foil and freeze for up to 1 month.
Chatelaine Quickies: Instant cherry sorbet
[bc_video video_id=”5031003744001″ account_id=”10190175001″ player_id=”r1zRQqV3″]
Nutrition (per square)
- Calories
- 223,
- Protein
- 4 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 16 g,
- Fat
- 17 g,
- Sodium
- 155 mg.
- Good source of
- vitamin A