Ingredients
Scale
- 12 full-sheet graham crackers (to yield 1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for crust)
- 16 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar (for filling)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper with enough overhang on the sides to easily lift the chilled bars out as a whole. Set aside.
- Make the crust: Grind graham crackers into fine crumbs. Stir graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar together in a medium bowl, then stir in melted butter until mixture is thick and sandy. Press into the bottom of the lined pan.
- Bake the crust for 8 minutes. Cool for a few minutes as you prepare the filling.
- Make the filling: Beat cream cheese for 1 minute on medium speed until smooth. Beat in egg, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Gently fold in blueberries.
- Pour filling evenly onto the warm crust.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until cheesecake has set and edges are lightly browned. Bars will puff and then sink slightly as they cool.
- Remove from oven and cool for 30 minutes at room temperature on a wire rack, then chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
- Lift parchment paper out of pan and cut into squares.
Notes
For best results, use full-fat cream cheese and do not thaw frozen blueberries before folding them into the batter. The bars keep fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Method: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg