There’s no better way to end a meal than with a sweet treat, and dessert bars are my go-to. These squares are easy to make and ideal for sharing, as everyone gets the same serving size. Lemon bars, brownies, and blondies are classics for a reason, but sometimes I’m looking for something that’s more fruit-forward. For those who love the richness and tangy flavor of strawberry cheesecake, here’s how to turn that dessert into an easy, make-ahead bar. 

In this recipe for strawberry cheesecake bars, you’ll start by making a sweet and sturdy graham cracker crust that doubles as the crumble topping. Next comes a rich and creamy cheesecake layer that’s shockingly simple with our foolproof food processor method. Spooned into the cheesecake layer are strawberries cooked just enough so the juices start coming out but there’s still fresh strawberry flavor. Everything bakes together into a pretty bar that you can eat out of hand.

Why You’ll Love It

• It’s bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. Strawberries and cheesecake are a classic flavor combination, and these bars are the best way to showcase fresh, in-season strawberries. 
• They’re an ideal make-ahead dessert. These strawberry cheesecake bars need time to chill in the refrigerator before serving. Make them ahead and they’ll be ready when you are.

Key Ingredients in Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

• Strawberries: Cook fresh strawberries for a few minutes to drive off some of their moisture and concentrate the fruit flavor. Avoid frozen strawberries, which have a muted flavor and water-logged consistency, in this recipe. 
• Cream cheese: There’s no need to wait for the cream cheese to come to room temperature before making the filling. Just make sure to scrape down the sides of the food processor to make sure the cream cheese becomes evenly light and fluffy.
• Graham crackers: Use graham crackers as the base for the crumb crust and topping.
• All-purpose flour: Just 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour adds stability to the crust and gives the topping a crumble-like texture.
• Butter: Melted unsalted butter binds the graham cracker crumbs together and gives the crust and topping a rich, buttery flavor.

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