Strawberry Cheesecake Crumb Bars

Strawberry cheesecake crumb bars are the perfect treat for spring and summer. They are tart and rich, with fresh strawberries, cream cheese, and notes of lemon on a buttery crumble.

Info and tips for strawberry cheesecake crumb bars

When making the crumble, use butter that’s softened. This will make your life so much easier because cold butter will not form into a crumb well. You can use a fork or knife to cut in the butter, your hands, or a food processor. The food processor would be easiest, but if you don’t have one don’t worry, I did it by hand and it still works fine!

Same goes for the cream cheese! Make sure it’s softened so that when you mix it there are no lumps. The strawberry mixture will turn a bit liquidly naturally from the juices and sugar, just make sure not to dump this liquid into the crumble bars.

When making the base layer, make sure the crumbs are pressed down really well and firm. Next you can add all or most of the cream cheese. You’ll see in my video I did most of the cream cheese, most of the strawberries, and then I swirled the rest of the cream cheese and strawberries together on top for pretty points.

After it’s done baking I recommend letting it sit for at least 30 minutes before cutting. This will help it set and not be super crumbly. Bonus pints if you leave it in the fridge, as it’ll become even more firm. If you eat it right away it will most likely be quite crumbly.

Equipment

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This is the Kitchen Aid Food Processor I use and recommend!

I love using these Clear Baking Dishes for everything!

Ingredients for strawberry cheesecake crumb bars

crumb

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup softened salted butter
• 1 large egg
• tsp vanilla

cheescake

• 1 softened block cream cheese
• tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg

strawberries

• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• tsp lemon juice
• tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.
2. Start by making the crumb mixture. Mix together flour, brown sugar, and baking powder. Next add in the softened butter, use your hands, a fork, or a food processor to mix the butter into the flour. It should look crumbly.
3. Next add the egg and vanilla, mix or process again until incorporated. You should be left with a slightly moist crumbly mixture. Set this aside.
4. Next make the cheesecake filling by mixing the cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and an egg together with a hand mixer until smooth and no lumps remain. Set this aside.
5. Now make the strawberry mixture by combining fresh diced strawberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, white sugar, and cornstarch.
6. Create the layers by pressing half of the crumb mixture into an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. Make sure to press firmly to create a sturdy base.
7. Next spread on the cheesecake filling evenly. Add the strawberry mixture on top, making sure to discard any liquid that has formed.
8. Add remaining half of the crumb mixture on top and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.
9. Let sit at least 30 minutes to set. Serve with vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, or on its own and enjoy!

See below for a video tutorial!

Check out other yummy desserts like my Strawberry Cheesecake Danish Hearts or my Best Snickerdoodle Thumbprint Cookies!

Print Recipe

Strawberry Cheesecake Crumb Bars

(31 votes, average: 4.19 out of 5)

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Desserts

By Kenna's Cooks – Serves: 9 squares

Prep Time: 30 minutes – Cooking Time: 45 minutes – Total Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Strawberry cheesecake crumb bars are tart and rich, with fresh strawberries, cream cheese, and notes of lemon on a buttery crumble.

Ingredients

• Crumb
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup softened salted butter
• 1 large egg
• tsp vanilla
• Cheesecake
• 1 softened block cream cheese
• tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• Strawberries
• 2 cups chopped strawberries
• tsp lemon juice
• tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.

2

Start by making the crumb mixture. Mix together flour, brown sugar, and baking powder. Next add in the softened butter, use your hands, a fork, or a food processor to mix the butter into the flour. It should look crumbly.

3

Next add the egg and vanilla, mix or process again until incorporated. You should be left with a slightly moist crumbly mixture. Set this aside.

4

Next make the cheesecake filling by mixing the cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, and an egg together with a hand mixer until smooth and no lumps remain. Set this aside.

5

Now make the strawberry mixture by combining fresh diced strawberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, white sugar, and cornstarch.

6

Create the layers by pressing half of the crumb mixture into an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Make sure to press firmly to create a sturdy base.

7

Next spread on the cheesecake filling evenly. Add the strawberry mixture on top, making sure to discard any liquid that has formed.

8

Add remaining half of the crumb mixture on top and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.

9

Let sit at least 30 minutes to set. Serve with vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, or on its own and enjoy!

Notes

Store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Crumb bars will be firmer cold and more crumbly warm.