Creamy No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Bars
These creamy no-bake lemon cheesecake bars feature a tangy lemon filling atop a buttery graham cracker crust, perfect for a quick, refreshing dessert without heating up the kitchen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes (optional crust baking)
- Total Time: 4 hours 23 minutes (including chilling)
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sheets)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) if toasting crust. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Mix until evenly moistened. Press firmly into bottom of 8×8-inch pan. Bake 8 minutes, then cool. (Or skip oven and chill later.)
- Make the filling: Beat softened cream cheese until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until silky.
- Add lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract to cream cheese mixture. Beat until combined.
- Whip heavy cream in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.
- Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture to keep filling light and airy.
- Pour filling over cooled crust and spread evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight to set.
- Cut into 12 bars using a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean slices. Serve chilled.
Notes
Soften cream cheese fully before mixing to avoid lumps. Whip cream slowly to avoid curdling. Press crust firmly for better structure. Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor. Chill bars thoroughly for best texture. Avoid freezing to maintain creamy texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 4
Keywords: lemon cheesecake bars, no-bake dessert, lemon bars, creamy lemon dessert, graham cracker crust, easy summer dessert