Cheesecake Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350° F, and if you will want to remove bars from dish before slicing, line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment so the sides hang over the edges of the dish. If using foil, spray with nonstick cooking spray.

For the crust:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, add all crust ingredients and stir together until completely combined.

2. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake crust for 5 minutes, then remove and lower oven heat to 325 ºF. Let crust cool on a cooling rack.

For the cheesecake filling:

1. Add cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

2. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add sour cream and beat until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl between each addition.

3. Pour the cheesecake filling into the crust and smooth the surface. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until the edges are set, the top is just starting to turn golden brown and the center is just about set and only has a bit of a wobble. Cool completely at room temperature and then once cool, refrigerate for at least 4 to 6 hours, or overnight, before cutting into bars.

4. To serve, use a large, sharp knife to cut into squares. I recommend wiping the knife clean with a damp cloth between slices. Serve with a dollop of cherry pie filling or fresh fruit and enjoy!

Recipe Credit: Kim's Cravings

Check out our other recipes from Kim's Cravings: 
Easy Baked Ziti
Italian Salad