If you are looking for the perfect dessert to take to a potluck or enjoy at a casual get together with friends, this is your sign that this easy Blueberry Cheesecake Bars recipe is the one. Handheld? Check. Creamy AND chewy? Check. Fresh and fruity? Check, check, and double-check. You guys are going to love this one. I dare you not to. Cheesecake is one of my all-time favorite desserts and guaranteed to make you happy. It’s very possible that I even like cheesecake better in bar form than by the slice. See Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars and Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars for more evidence. These blueberry cheesecake bars are creamy, sweet, with a bit of crunch, and yummy in any really season. And yes, you can swap out the blueberries for other flavors (cherry! strawberry! raspberry! lemon! lime!) and have something that everyone will rave about and beg you for the recipe. It’s so easy to make (no water bath needed), and it can be flavored with just about any flavor, fruit, or even candy you can think of (i.e., chopped snickers, Reese’s Pieces, rolos, etc.)! And if you are ready to continue to level up your cheesecake game, be sure to also try our Cheesecake Jars and Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Pops next!
Why We Love This Recipe
Use fresh or frozen berries here any time of year! Change up the type of berries or add spices to the crumble to change the flavor. Quick and easy, these cheesecake bars are ready in just under an hour!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cheesecake Bars Crust
Butter – Salted butter is best for making the crumble crust. White Sugar & Brown Sugar – Use white granulated sugar and brown sugar for the crust to emphasize that crumbly oat taste that everyone loves about a crumble. Salt – Salt will enhance the sweet and tart flavors of these cheesecake bars. Flour – Use all-purpose flour as the base of the crust and topping. Oats – Old-fashioned oatmeal adds a great oaty flavor as well as a more interesting texture to the crust and topping.
Cheesecake Filling
Cream Cheese – I used plain, full-fat cream cheese in this recipe, but you can use lower-fat cream cheese like neufchatel if you prefer. White Granulated Sugar – This will sweeten and thicken the cheesecake filling. Vanilla – Add some vanilla extract for a warm, subtle sweetness. Sour Cream – This will cut through the sweetness of the filling and blend well with the sweet and tart blueberries. Large Eggs – Eggs will help to bind and bake the cheesecake filling. Lemon – It’s best to use fresh lemon juice for this recipe for the best flavor. Blueberries – You can use fresh berries or frozen ones for this recipe, so it’s great for any time of year! See notes for using frozen berries.
How to Make Blueberry Cheesecake Squares
Tips for Success
Leave the cream cheese out on the counter for about an hour to soften it before adding it to the melted butter to avoid it going clumpy. You can use this recipe to make traditional cheesecake slices in a circular springform pan instead of a square pan if you prefer.
Substitutions and Variations
Next time, use raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or cherries in the same way to make different-flavored cheesecake bars. Add some lemon zest to the cheesecake filling for an added burst of citrus. Use this Blueberry Pie Filling instead of plain blueberries. You can fully mix it into the cheesecake filling, or lightly mix it to leave a swirl pattern. You can use a Buttery Graham Cracker Crust for these bars if you prefer. Use lemon extract or almond extract instead of vanilla for a different flavor. Add some cinnamon or nutmeg to the crumble mix for an added spiced flavor. Add in some chopped pecans or walnuts for a slight crunch and a nutty flavor. Top the cheesecake bars with some white chocolate curls or a dusting of powdered sugar once they have cooled completely for extra sweetness.
More Blueberry Recipes
Easy No-Bake Blueberry Delight Homemade Blueberry Pie Blueberry Muffins Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
For more sweet treat bar ideas, check out my Gooey Butter Cake, these Cherry Pie Bars, my Oatmeal Fudge Bars, and these chocolatey Nanaimo Bars. You always want to wash fresh blueberries before using them in dessert recipes. Pat them dry with paper towels so you’re not adding excess water to the recipe. To use frozen blueberries here, you can keep them frozen and add them to the cheesecake filling. If you thaw them, it can make them a soggy mess and turn your cheesecake batter purple (not necessarily a bad thing!), but you should coat them with some flour to help soak up any excess liquid before adding them in.
More Dessert Bar Recipes
Classic Nanaimo Bars Frosted Coconut Sugar Cookie Bars Cherry Pie Bars Slutty Brownie Bars
Oatmeal Fudge Bars
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
Lemon Meringue Pie Bars
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