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Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Bars with White Chocolate Drizzle Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 142 reviews

Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars are a creamy, smooth dessert with a buttery graham cracker crust, topped with a homemade fresh strawberry sauce and a drizzle of white chocolate. This no-fuss bar version of classic cheesecake offers a perfect balance of rich cream cheese filling and sweet, tangy fruit topping, making it an ideal treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 11–12 full crackers)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tbsp butter (melted)

Filling

  • 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs (room temperature)

Strawberry Sauce

  • 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries (chopped)
  • 5 tbsp sugar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp cornstarch

White Chocolate Drizzle

  • ½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch pan with a parchment sling and spray lightly with baking spray for easy removal and non-stick baking.
  2. Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until evenly mixed. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan using a flat measuring cup or tamper to create a compact crust layer.
  3. Prepare the Filling: Using hand beaters on medium speed, blend softened cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed evenly.
  4. Add Eggs: Reduce mixer speed to low and add eggs, combining just until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix to avoid deflating the batter.
  5. Bake Cheesecake Bars: Pour the cream cheese filling over the crust in the pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes until the center is almost set but still slightly jiggly. Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1-2 hours. Then refrigerate for 3-4 hours to set completely.
  6. Make Strawberry Sauce: While bars are baking, combine chopped strawberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and deepens in color, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.
  7. Slice Cheesecake Bars: Once chilled, use a large sharp knife to slice the cheesecake into 8-10 equal bars.
  8. Top with Strawberry Sauce: Spoon or spread strawberry sauce over each cheesecake bar, pushing sauce to the edges of each piece. Optionally, create a small well in the center before adding sauce for the traditional Philadelphia snack bar look.
  9. Drizzle White Chocolate: Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Transfer melted chocolate to a zipper bag, cut a small hole in one corner, and drizzle the chocolate over the bars for a decorative finish.
  10. Serve: Serve immediately after decorating or keep refrigerated until ready to enjoy.

Notes

  • For best results, use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, lump-free filling.
  • Allow bars to chill thoroughly for clean slicing and optimal texture.
  • To mimic the original Philadelphia snack bar style, create a small indent in each bar before adding the strawberry topping to hold the sauce neatly.
  • Store leftover bars refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • You can substitute fresh strawberries with frozen, thawed strawberries if fresh are not available.

Keywords: Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars, cheesecake bars, strawberry cheesecake, white chocolate drizzle, graham cracker crust, easy cheesecake recipe, no crust cheesecake

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/philadelphia-strawberry-cheesecake-bars-with-white-chocolate-drizzle-recipe/