Cranberry-Lemon Cheesecake Bars

These festive cheesecake bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Cranberries add a pop of color and tang. To make your own graham cracker crumbs, process cracker sheets in a food processor until fine.

the recipe photo of the Cranberry-Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Photo: Alexandra Shytsman
Active Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
5 hrs
Servings:
9
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 8 cracker sheets)

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted

  • Zest of 1 large lemon, divided

  • 1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

  • cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided

  • ¼ cup sour cream or plain strained yogurt, such as Greek-style

  • 1 large egg

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup fresh or frozen (not thawed) cranberries

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.

  2. Stir graham cracker crumbs, butter and half the lemon zest together in a medium bowl. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 10 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, thoroughly whisk softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, sour cream (or yogurt), egg, lemon juice, vanilla, salt and the remaining lemon zest together in a medium bowl. (Alternatively, combine ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth; transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.)

  4. Add cranberries and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar to a food processor. Pulse until well chopped. Add to the cream cheese mixture and stir until incorporated. Pour the filling evenly over the baked crust. Bake until the center appears to be just set, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours more.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

253 Calories
16g Fat
25g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 9
Serving Size 1 bar
Calories 253
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 16g
Added Sugars 10g 20%
Protein 4g 8%
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Vitamin A 494IU 10%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Vitamin D 5IU 1%
Vitamin E 1mg 4%
Folate 27mcg 7%
Vitamin K 4mcg 3%
Sodium 226mg 10%
Calcium 49mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 10mg 2%
Potassium 91mg 2%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Related Articles