Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars: Easy Bite Size Dessert

Lemon cranberry cheesecake bars are the perfect post-holiday treat! Creamy cheesecake filling swirled with a cranberry compote on top of buttery graham cracker crust results in irresistible bite-size goodness.

It’s a light and not-too-sweet dessert that offers a welcoming change after the holiday sweetness overload. (Don’t you think it’s safe to say the influx of Christmas chocolate is enough to last us all year?)

I don’t know about you, but I have some leftover cranberries and other baking staples I need to use up right now. I might have gone a bit overboard this year.

But I also don’t want anything super sweet. I decided to whip up the best option for this time of year. Cranberry cheesecake bars!

It’s super easy to put together, too. I don’t have a lot of energy after the holidays and this is the perfect balance. No tricky cheesecake skills are required.

If you’re making this later in the year, it’s the perfect addition to any dessert table. These are beautiful with such a great pop of red color, making them the best treat for Valentine’s Day too!

Or maybe you don’t have a crowd to serve them to. They’re great to make for yourself. Just be careful, because they’re so good they’ll be gone if you take too long to blink!

Whenever I make these, they’re gone within minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ingredients Needed For Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Cranberry ingredients:

• 8 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup water

Cheesecake ingredients:

• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ⅔ cup powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 lemons, juiced and zested

Crust ingredients:

• 14 graham crackers, crushed
• 4 tbsp butter, melted

TIP! If your cream cheese is rock hard right from the refrigerator, here is how to bring in to room temperature.

Step-by-Step Preparation With Pictures

1. Before you get started, preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a 10×7 baking pan with aluminum foil and set aside. Alternatively, you can line it with parchment paper or spray it with cooking spray.

2. Crush the graham crackers in a blender or food processor. Melt the butter in the microwave, then pour the melted butter over the graham cracker crumbs. Mix until well combined.

3. Pour the graham cracker mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly into the bottom. Once you’ve done that, bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.

4. Next, start preparing the cranberry mixture. Add the cranberries, water, and sugar to a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil and then cook for 10-15 minutes on a medium-high heat. The cranberries will have popped when done. Then, remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

5. Use an electric stand mixer with the whisk attachment to whip the softened cream cheese at a medium-high speed until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, egg, yogurt, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix the cream cheese filling until well incorporated.

6. Take the crust out of the oven and set aside to cool. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust and spread the cream cheese layer evenly.

7. Add spoonfuls of the cranberry mixture on top of the cream cheese mixture. Using a butter knife, swirl the cranberry layer on the top of the cheesecake.

8. Put it back into the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, until firm (the middle no longer jiggles).

9. Cool for 2+ hours before placing in the refrigerator to cool for an additional hour. Cut into even rectangles and decorate with cranberries and pieces of lemon. Enjoy!

Variation Ideas

This cranberry lemon bars recipe is incredibly versatile. Here are some variation ideas to try:

• Make it keto-friendly: Try swapping out the sugars for your favorite sweetener and opt for almond flour instead of graham crackers. The texture will change slightly, however.
• Try different fruits: You can try other fruits such as blueberries, cherries, or even pineapple. Add in some lemon, orange zest, or even orange juice in with compote as well.
• Add some spice: Add some extra spice to the compote by incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, or even pumpkin pie spice.
• Top with your favorites: Try topping with oat crumble, crushed pecans, white chocolate chips, ice cream, sorbet, or even some whipped cream. A drizzle of honey would also add a nice touch!
• Switch up the crust: Not a fan of graham crackers? No problem! Try crushing up your favorite cookie crumbs instead.

Serving and Presentation

These lemon cranberry bars will be so fun to serve at your next party or event. Here are some fun things to try:

• Add a fun garnish: Top with a sprinkle of lemon zest, whole cranberries, or even edible glitter for an extra pop of color.
• Pair with your favorite drink: These sweet treats pair great with your favorite cozy tea, latte, or even wine. Perfect for kid-friendly or adult-only events.
• Serve on your favorite dish: Bake in a festive dish and serve on white plates to bring out the bright colors.
• Make them easy to eat: Cut each of these cranberry cheesecake squares small to make them super easy to pick up and eat! Also, try these protein lemon bars for another healthy quick treat.

Storage

I doubt you’ll have many leftovers as they’re so good they’ll be gone in minutes! But in case you do, you’ll need to know how to store them.

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for a few days in the fridge.
• Reheat in the microwave for a cozy warm treat. Heat in 30-second increments, depending on the size of your cranberry cheesecake bars.
• Freeze these cranberry cream cheese bars on a baking sheet for 1-2 hours. Cut and wrap individually with plastic wrap before placing into a freezer bag. Just make sure to thaw them completely before unwrapping or they will stick to the foil or parchment paper.

One Last Thing

I know you’re going to love this cranberry lemon bars recipe now that the holidays are over. It’s a great dessert to help recover from the holidays that isn’t too sweet. It’s such an easy baking recipe and goes to show just how simple it can be! You can even make it simpler if you use cranberry sauce.

After the crazy busy holiday season, it’s nice to whip something up that’s a bit more stress-free. Especially when your energy is nowhere to be found in these cold winter months.

No matter what occasion you’re making these for, they’re the perfect easy cheesecake recipe. The beautiful color is sure to stand out in a crowd on the dessert table. That is if they last more than a few minutes!

Once you try these cranberry cheesecake bars for the first time, you’ll be tempted to bake an entire pan just for yourself! No judgment here if you do. These cranberry lemon cheesecake bars are that good!

Oh and if you’re looking for even more cheesecake recipes, be sure to try out these delicious mini turtle cheesecakes or these patriotic mini cheesecakes. You’re sure to love them as much as I do!

Your Turn

If you make these delicious lemon cranberry cheesecake bars, please take a moment to let me know how you liked them by leaving a rating and a comment below on the recipe card.

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