Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars have the classic flavor of strawberry cheesecake in a quick and tasty snack. These bars are made with a graham cracker crust and creamy cheesecake layer topped off with a layer of homemade strawberry jam and a white chocolate drizzle topping. These divine treats are perfect for potlucks, parties, or anytime!
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Now that strawberry season is in full swing; I have been making these delicious dessert bars for everyone.
It is a quick recipe that takes much less time than a regular baked cheesecake and tastes just as good!
In the early 2000s, we used to pick up Philadelphia Cheesecake Bars, which were carried at grocery stores. I'm pretty sure that's where my love for cheesecake began. They made you feel like you died and went to heaven. 🙂
However, they discontinued these bars some time ago, so I decided I had to recreate them for myself and make a copycat recipe. I believe that this recipe is even better than the original recipe as it is made with fresh ingredients and tastes amazing, just like a New York cheesecake.
This is a quick and no-fail recipe that turns out perfect every time. Speed up the process by using strawberry jam or strawberry preserves already in the fridge!
Be sure to try out my no-bake cheesecake recipe too!
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- This Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars recipe makes the perfect dessert for any occasion. This recipe is simple to follow and results in a delicious, crowd-pleasing snack bar that will have everyone asking for seconds!
- This is an easy recipe that is simple to make and tastes delicious.
- The recipe calls for simple ingredients that you likely have on hand.
- Get the cheesecake flavor you love in half the time!
- Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake snacks are perfect as a snack or dessert.
- The strawberry cheesecake flavor is delicious.
- They store well in the refrigerator so that you can enjoy them later on too!
- These snack bars are also great for potlucks and parties.
- This strawberry cheesecake snack bars recipe is versatile and can be adapted to your liking.
- These delicious cheesecake bars are moist and flavorful, thanks to the addition of fresh strawberries.
- The creamy cheesecake filling is the perfect complement to the sweet strawberries.
🍓 Ingredients
This delicious cheesecake snack bar recipe is made with simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Graham cracker crumbs. Use graham cracker crumbs, or make your own by pulsing graham crackers in a food processor. You will need to use about one sleeve of graham crackers.
- Butter or margarine. This is used with the graham cracker crumbs to form the base of the cheesecake bars.
- Cream cheese. Use a good quality cream cheese. Philadelphia cream cheese is a good option because it is thick, creamy, and has a great flavor.
- Sugar. I used white sugar.
- Sour cream. The sour cream adds richness and tanginess to the bars.
- Vanilla extract. I used pure vanilla extract.
- Eggs. I used large eggs that were at room temperature.
- Fresh strawberries. I used fresh organic strawberries.
- Water.
- Lemon juice. This helps to dissolve the sugar.
- Cornstarch. This is used as a thickener for the homemade jam.
- White chocolate. I used high-quality white chocolate bars. You could also use white chocolate chips.
See the recipe card for quantities.
🥄 How to make Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake snack bars
Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake snack bars are a great way to get your sweet fix. The recipe is simple, and the result is delicious. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
Make the graham cracker crust
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Combine graham cracker crumbs with the butter and mix well.
Press the crumb mixture into the entire bottom of pan (8 x 11.5 size pan). Use the bottom of a glass to pack the crust down.
Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the cheesecake filling:
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine cream cheese.
Next, add sugar and sour cream and mix until smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg.
Add the vanilla extract and mix again until smooth.
Pour mixture over the graham crust.
Use a spatula to smooth the filling.
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is just a bit jiggly. The outside of the cream cheese layer should start to turn a light golden brown color.
It is okay if it cracks a bit; the strawberry topping will cover any cracks.
Remove the cheesecake and place it on a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. Then, transfer it to the fridge for 3-4 hours.
Strawberry Topping
- While the cheesecake is cooling, make the strawberry topping. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine strawberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Mix the strawberry ingredients well until the mixture starts to come to a boil.
- Lower the stove to medium-low heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the sauce is thickened. It should be the consistency of jam.
- Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Assemble
Cut the cheesecake into 18 small bars or 9 large bars (I did large bars, because, well, you know... it's cheesecake) and remove them from the pan.
Spoon the completely cooled strawberry topping onto the bars.
Melt the white chocolate by placing iinto a heat-safe container. Place it in the microwave at 20-second intervals or in the air fryer on the reheat setting, also for 20-second intervals. Stir each time you check it. When it is smooth, it is ready.
Use a spoon or Ziploc bag with a small hole cut in one corner to drizzle the white chocolate sauce on each cheesecake bar.
Serve immediately!
Enjoy!
Hint: For a quicker and easier version, leave the cheesecake in the pan and add the strawberry sauce and white chocolate drizzle. Slice and remove as needed.
📖 Substitutions
- Graham cracker crust. I like to use a graham cracker crust for a traditional flavor. You can use graham cracker crumbs or make your own out of graham crackers. For a different flavor, you could also use crushed pretzels.
- Sugar. You could also use cane sugar or a sugar substitute such as Stevia or Truvia.
- Sour cream. You could also use Greek yogurt.
🍫 Variations
Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake snack bars are a great way to enjoy the classic dessert flavor combination without spending a lot of time baking in the kitchen.
Here are a few variations on the Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake snack bar recipe:
- Chocolate Chip Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for a bit more sweetness.
- Caramel Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars: Top the bars with caramel sauce instead of white chocolate before serving.
- Pecan Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars: Add ½ cup of chopped pecans to the batter before baking.
- For a similar recipe, instead of placing cheesecake in a baking pan, use a springform pan and make a baked cheesecake.
- Add some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top for an extra indulgent treat (or make your own with heavy cream).
🍽 Equipment
To make the Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars recipe, you'll need a few pieces of equipment:
- An 8 x 11.5-inch baking dish, preferably with high sides, is necessary for this recipe.
- A food processor is helpful for making the crust.
- A stand mixer or handheld mixer is necessary for preparing the cheesecake filling.
- A rubber spatula comes in handy for stirring everything together.
- A wire cooling rack ensures that your bars will cool adequately before serving.
🌡️ Storage
One of the best things about real Philadelphia strawberry cheesecake bars is that they can be stored in the fridge or freezer.
Fridge: If you're going to store them in the refrigerator, make sure to place them in an airtight container, so they don't dry out. You can also use plastic wrap to cover the container the bars are in.
Freezer: You can also freeze Philadelphia snack bars by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and then placing them in a freezer-safe bag. This will help keep them fresh for up to two months. Then, take out a bar whenever you feel like having one!
💭 Top tips
- Use room temperature cream cheese. It will be much easier to mix with the other ingredients and make for a smoother cheesecake bar.
- Don't overmix the batter! Overmixing will result in a tough cheesecake bar. Instead, mix until all of the ingredients are just combined.
- Be careful not to overbake the bars! Overbaking will dry them out and make them crumbly. Instead, Bake just until the center is a bit jiggly.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting into them. If they're not cooled properly, they'll be messy to cut into.
📑 FAQs
Kraft and Philadelphia discontinued their Cheesecake Snack Bars in 2005. Change.org has a petition going around to bring them back, though.
Kraft decided to stop them as they were experiencing challenges in production.
Yes, these cheesecake bars freeze exceptionally well for up to two months.
Yes, any cheesecake must be refrigerated, even after it has been baked. Place bars in an airtight container or cover them with plastic wrap before placing them in the fridge.
The maximum these cream cheese bars can sit out at room temperature is two hours.
☕ More copycat recipes you'll love
Philadelphia cheesecake snack bars are a delicious way to have a little bit of cheesecake goodness. They're perfect for a quick snack or as a dessert after a meal. I highly recommend giving this recipe a try!
If you try it out and like it, I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a star rating and/or comment below. 🙂
Don't forget to share it with your friends on social media!
You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don't forget to tag me in your photos @windingcreek_ranch!
📋 Recipe
Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bars Recipe
Equipment
- An 8 x 11.5-inch baking dish
- A food processor for making the crust.
- A stand mixer or handheld mixer
- A rubber spatula
- A wire cooling rack
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup butter melted
Cheesecake Filling
- 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs room temperature
Strawberry Topping
- 2 cups strawberries chopped
- 6 tablespoon sugar
- 4 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
White Chocolate Drizzle
- ½ cup white chocolate (or white chocolate chips) chopped
Instructions
Make the graham cracker crust
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add graham cracker crumbs and mix well.
- Press into the bottom of an 8-inch x 11.5-inch pan. Use the bottom of a glass to pack the crust down.
- Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the cheesecake filling:
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add the vanilla extract and mix again until smooth.
- Pour the filling over the graham crust. Use a spatula to smooth the filling. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is just a bit jiggly. The outside should start to turn a light golden brown color.
- Remove the cheesecake and place it on a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. Transfer it to the fridge for 3-4 hours.
Strawberry Topping
- While the cheesecake is cooling, make the strawberry filling. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine strawberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Mix well until the mixture starts to come to a boil.
- Lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. It should be the consistency of jam.
- Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Assemble
- Cut the cheesecake into 18 bars and remove them from the pan.
- Spoon the completely cooled strawberry topping onto the bars.
- Place chopped white chocolate into a heat-safe container. Place it in the microwave at 20-second intervals, or in the air fryer on the reheat setting, also for 20-second intervals. Stir each time you check it. When it is smooth it is ready.
- Use a spoon or Ziploc bag with a small hole cut in one corner to drizzle the white chocolate sauce on each cheesecake bar.
- Serve immediately!
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese. It will be much easier to mix with the other ingredients and make for a smoother cheesecake bar.
- Don't overmix the batter! Overmixing will result in a tough cheesecake bar. Mix until all of the ingredients are just combined.
- Be careful not to overbake the bars! Overbaking will dry them out and make them crumbly. Bake just until the center is a bit jiggly.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting into them. If they're not cooled properly, they'll be messy to cut into.
Nutrition
📑 Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Amy
Great recipe! Will be making it again for sure:)