Blackberry Cheesecake Bars With Shortbread Crust
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars With Shortbread Crust – buttery crust, topped with luscious cheesecake layer and sweet blackberry sauce swirled into it. Quick to make, tastes delicious and has great flavor. One slice from these is not enough!
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
I finally got to make some cheesecake again! It is one of my all time favorite desserts, but for some reason I don’t make it that often!
I was craving cheesecake last week and since I did not have time to make some I asked my husband to get me some from the store. While I’ve had some good tasting store bought cheesecakes, this one wasn’t one of them. Anyway, this meant I had to bake a cheesecake asap!
With some fresh blackberries on my kitchen counter, I decided to make a blackberry swirl cheesecake bars.
Why make cheesecake bars?
Cheesecake bars are made the same way as cheesecake and baked in a square or rectangular baking dish.
They bake even easier than cheesecake and made a delicious cheesecake dessert.
I love the taste of homemade shortbread crust (not what I dislike graham cracker crust) and wanted to combine a thicker crust with a layer of cheesecake.
Shortbread crust for cheesecake
Basides Oreo cookies or graham crackers, you can also made a different cheesecake crust – shortbread crust.
It is buttery and soft, thick and tastes amazing.
This crust is almost as thick as the cheesecake layer, so if this is something you don’t like, simply reduce the ingredients and you’ll end up with a thinner base for your cheesecake. (Baking time should be reduced to around 10-12 minutes, as well.)
Blackberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars With Shortbread Crust
You can enjoy these cheesecake bars at room temperature or chilled.
How to cut cheesecake bars?
I cut them into 3×3 inch squares, but if cut into 1×1 inch squares, they’ll make an awesome party dessert.
Clean the knife after each cut and you’ll be able to achieve perfectly cut cheesecake bars.
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
If you don’t feel like making the blackberry syrup and the swirl, just bake cheesecake and top with fruit preserves.
A fun fact – I’ve only had a bar a day since I made these! Not that they are not delicious, but I need to try and keep my body in shape for spring and summer !
Blackberry Cheesecake bars
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BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST
Ingredients
For the blackberry sauce:
- 6 oz fresh blackberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 drops vanilla extract
For the Shortbread Crust:
- 3/4 cup (1 and 1/2 sticks) softened butter
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the cheesecake layer:
- 16 oz softened creme cheese
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
Instructions
For the blackberry sauce:
-
In a sauce pan combine blackberries, sugar and water and cook for 10 minutes. Using a fork mash blackberries. Strain sauce, using a fine mesh strainer. Set a side.
For the crust:
-
Preheat oven to 350 F (177 C). In the bowl of a stand mixer cream butter for 2 minutes. Add sugar and mix until combined. Add in flour and salt and mix until medium crumbs are formed.
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Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with aluminum foil. Transfer crust mixture and with a spatula or your fingers, press onto the bottom of baking dish. Make sure the layer is even.
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Bake for 20 minutes, until edges are golden.
For the cheesecake layer:
-
In a bowl whisk cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Pour mixture over the baked shortbread crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.
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To make the swirl - drizzle some sauce on top of cheesecake layer and using a toothpick swirl it into the batter.
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Bake cheesecake for 35-40 minutes, until cheesecake is slightly puffed. Cool completely.
-
Cut into nine 3x3 in squares. Store in the fridge in air tight container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 565, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 132mg, Sodium: 444mg, Potassium: 164mg, Carbohydrates: 59g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g, Protein: 7g, Vitamin A: 1245%, Vitamin C: 4%, Calcium: 79%, Iron: 1.9%
Holy moly! That is seriously incredible – oh my gawd, what a photo!! Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, yummy yummy yummy. This is totally my type of treat. I need some right now!! It’s dessert time in Sydney!! 🙂
Thank you so much Nagi! Will sure send some!
Okay, so I’m pretty much flipping out over the insane level of gorgeousness you packed into these bars. Oh my gosh, Mira I am seriously crushing on these! I love the ratio of cheesecake to crust and my gosh, those gorgeous blackberries! These are beyond gorgeous and your photos are stunning! Pinned. 🙂
Thanks so much Sarah!!!
Stunning! Blackberry just makes the prettiest desserts, don’t you think?
Oh yeah Sarah! I love it!
This is a stunning dessert and I would opt for the swirl because it adds beautiful color, I can’t wait to try it.
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert too:) I agree one slice is not enough!
At the risk of sounding redundant – these bars are gorgeous! I’d love a tray or two!!
That’s art, period.
You are so nice Eva!
These bars are gorgeous, Mira! I’m loving the pretty swirls. I’ve never baked with blackberries before, so i definitely need to change that!
I almost never make cheesecake because a slice always feels so over-indulgent. These bars look like the perfect solution, though! Can’t wait to make them!
Those are so beautiful! I love the marbled tops, with the bright blackberries. So pretty! And I’m sure they’re absolutely delicious too!
This is gorgeous Mira! I love blackberries and you’ve made them look even better. 🙂 Pinned!
Wow! These win! The blackberry with shortbread is absolutely wonderful. 🙂
This is one pretty cheesecake, Mira! All of those thick swirls of blackberry has me craving a slice right now!
These cheesecake bars look perfect, Mira! I love the blackberry swirl! Just stunning!
OH.MY.WORD. this wouldn’t last a day in my house! We’re all cheesecake fans and the arrival of Spring/Summer is exactly why I won’t be making this…until Fall maybe. It’s too dangerous! Haha. Pinning for later!
Stunning would be an understatement! This looks so delicious Mira! Can I have the whole pan? Pinned!
You know what they say, Mira…a bar a day keeps the doctor away. I think.
These are gorgeous. The pics are stunning!!
I’m a BIG fan of cheesecake!! This bars looks so good and the marble effect is just perfection. Love it ♥
This looks gorgeous and so well made, Mira! major *drool* Pass me some! pinning for sure!
Mira, these are absolutely gorgeous!!! I am the same way. . I love cheesecake but don’t bake it often. . because I would eat the entire thing!!! love the swirl!!! so pretty!!! Pinned!!!
Blackberries, cheesecake AND shortbread ? – I’m in!
This combination sounds and looks just heavenly. Although I’m sure that mine are definitely not going to look nearly as pretty and delicious as yours do, I’m certainly giving this recipe a try! ♥
Delicious and master art bars, pinning and tweeting.
Oh baby, love that shortbread crust!! These bars look fantastic, Mira!
These are gorgeous! I love cheesecake, and I love them in bar form…so much simpler than baking a cheesecake in a springform pan. I need these right now!
Ok there’s nothing about these bars that I don’t like! I love cheesecake, I love blackberries and that shortbread crust looks to die for!! Great recipe Mira 🙂
These look amazing!
OK! this is SO PRETTY! it looks totally delicious too, but I mean the colors 😉 ahhhmazing!
I try not to make TOO much cheesecake because if I do, there is a real and serious danger that I will eat it…all. LIke with these bars! No idea how I could share. Love the sweet tart combo.
AMAZING! Ok these bars are looking very good for breakfast.
Oh, man! Now I am craving blackberries! I love these cheesecake bars- cheesecake is something I do not make often enough. These look fantastic Mira!
Oh my goodness, Mira, these look amazing! I love how you used a shortbread crust and made the cheesecake in bar form. I can’t wait to try these!
So.freakin.gorgeous. Love these bars! That crust sounds so good and pairs perfectly with the filling! Spring desserts here I come 🙂
These looks so good. I would want more then one a day too. I love bars and cheesecake. Add them together and I am in heaven! Love these!!
Lovely photos! These bars look to die for 🙂
I’ve never had blackberry cheesecake and I love the idea! The swirls are gorgeous. Pinned. 🙂
You had me at shortbread crust! These are so gorgeous.. I’m always looking for new desserts to bring to dinner parties!
These are stunning!! The marbling is so pretty, and your photos are gorgeous, as always! Such an elegant and delicious dessert!
I’m so happy we’re finally moving towards warmer weather. That means fresh berries, and there are few things more satisfying than fresh berries and cheesecake. Love this recipe!
they’re perfect for this warming weather. and they’re so pretty and colorful too!
Yummy! they are so tempting I could eat a whole tray. Recipe
Amazingly delicious! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
I made these tonight and oh my are they good! They are beyond delicious!
So glad they turned out nice 🙂
These are really good! Love the shortbread crust!
This cheesecake is sooo good! I halved the crust repicpe and baked it in a 9.7 inch round springform pan and it turned out amazing!
Hi Casey, so glad this recipe worked for you!
Hi there! Can I use the same measurements to divide the batter into a 12 muffin tin? Would the baking directions be different?
Yes, you can do so. You may need to bake them for shorter time, since smaller cheesecakes bake faster