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Citrus Cheesecake Bars are a triple threat! A graham cracker crust with a cheesecake layer full of lemon, lime and orange!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you love citrus fruit, you are going to love these. These bars have the perfect amount of lemon, lime, and orange. The combination of all three fresh citrus juices makes for a perfectly lovely cheesecake bar.
This recipe is made in an 8 x 8 glass pan so it is perfect for our reduced size family. There is enough for us plus enough to share without having too much!!
Ingredients
- Graham Crackers
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Lemon Zest
- Lime Zest
- Orange Zest
- Salt
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Egg Yolk
- Fresh Lime Juice
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Fresh Orange Juice
- Shredded Coconut
How to Make Citrus Cheesecake Bars
- Line your pan with aluminum foil, you want it to spill over the edges. This is going to make your job of removing it from the pan so much easier and it’s going to look prettier too!
- Mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter.
- Press into bottom of 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.
- Mix together softened cream cheese, zest and salt.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and stir well until incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain
- Whisk in egg yolk and add juices and stir gently until incorporated (mixture will thicken slightly).
- Pour mixture over graham cracker crust.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
- Cool for 1 – 1 1/2 hours then cover with foil and refrigerate for another 2 hours. You want them to chill thoroughly.
- Lift the bars out of the pan by the foil. Cut into small 2 inch pieces.
- Top with toasted coconut
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Cheesecake Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes. Because of the cream cheese, these bars should be stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
How long will Citrus Cheescake Bars last?
They will last for 4-5 days so they are a great make ahead dessert idea.
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Citrus Cheesecake Bars
Citrus Cheesecake Bars are a triple threat! A graham cracker crust with a cheesecake layer full of lemon, lime and orange!!
Prep:20 minutes
Cook:20 minutes
Total:40 minutes
Ingredients
CRUST
- 5 oz. of graham crackers crumbs about 9 full crackers
- 3 Tbsp packed brown sugar
- 4 Tbsp. butter melted and cooled slightly
FILLING
- 2 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp grated lime zest minced
- 1 ½ tsp grated lemon zest minced
- 1 ½ tsp grated orange zest minced
- Pinch salt
- 1 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 6 Tbsp fresh lime juice either Key lime or regular
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh orange juice
GARNISH (OPTIONAL)
- ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut toasted until golden and crisp
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees.
- Cover the bottom and sides of 8 incg pan with a piece of foil. Allowing excess to overhang pan sides. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
CRUST:
- In a bowl, add sugar to graham cracker crumbs.. Drizzle butter over crumbs and stir until crumbs are evenly moistened with butter.
- Press crumbs evenly and firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until deep golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack while making filling. Do not turn off oven.
FILLING:
- While crust cools, in medium bowl, stir cream cheese, zests, and salt with rubber spatula until softened, creamy, and thoroughly combined.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and stir well until incorporated and no lumps of cream cheese remain; whisk in egg yolk. Add juices and stir gently until incorporated (mixture will thicken slightly).
- Pour filling into crust; spread to corners and smooth surface with rubber spatula. Bake until set and edges begin to pull away slightly from sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Cover with foil and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.
- Loosen edges with paring knife and lift bars from baking pan using foil extensions; cut bars into 16 squares. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if using, and serve. Let bars stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before serving.)
Tips & Notes:
Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated
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Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 75kcal (4%) Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 6g (9%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 24mg (8%) Sodium: 50mg (2%) Potassium: 35mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 162IU (3%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 10mg (1%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Janice says
Shouldn’t it say “2 – 8 ounce packages of cream cheese not 2 ounces of cream cheese?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
yes, it should be 2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, I’ve updated the recipe.
Taryn says
I’m just wondering about the cook time. I’ve never seen a recipe that has egg yolks only baking for 15 to 20 minutes and I would about it making someone sick
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
The time cooks the eggs just fine. Won’t make anyone sick.
Liz says
These I’m sure are delicious. Thanks Leigh Anne.