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Easy Cheesecake Bars

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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 serviings

Equipment

  • 9 x 9 pan
  • Lemon zester or grater

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cups crushed cookies
  • 1/2 Cup Butter (1 stick) melted
  • 1/4 Cup brown sugar
  • 2 blocks Cream cheese (8 -ounce blocks)
  • 1 Cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1/4 Cup sour cream
  • 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large lemon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Optional - cherry filling, fresh strawberries, or cranberries to top the cheesecake. 

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F 
    To make crust:
    1. Crush cookies with a food processor or use  rolling pin (put cookies in plastic bag and roll).
    2. In a bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar.  
    3. In a 9 x 9 pan (lined with foil or parchment paper), press crust into pan. 
    4. Bake crust for 10-12 minutes.  
    Make cheesecake filling:
    1. In a large bowl, beat (with a mixer) cream cheese and sugar until creamy. 
    2. Add in the eggs. Mix well.
    3. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, and salt. 
    4. With. a lemon zester or grater, grate lemon peel into batter. 
    5. Squeeze lemon juice into bater. Mix well. 
    6. Pour filling on top of baked crust. 
    7. Place another pan filled with water into oven to give moisture while cheesecake is baking.
    8. Bake for 40 minutes.
    9. Turn oven off and let sit in oven for 15 minutes. 
    Cool.  
    Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set. 
    Top with cherry filling, fresh strawberries or cranberries.  
    Enjoy!
Keyword cheesecake