Paige Harris Whip up a batch of these Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars for a last minute Valentine’s Day treat, or really whenever you need something indulgent.
Now I know what you’re thinking. This has to be a “healthy” recipe for cheesecake bars.
Mmmm nope.
Listen up. If you think that you’re not allowed to eat certain foods, I want you to sit down and ask yourself why. Because there are no intrinsically good or bad foods, but there are good and bad reasons for not eating a food.
Why I shouldn’t eat X food…
Good answers: because I’m allergic to it, because I genuinely don’t like it. Because I have a sensitivity to it. Because I’m intolerant to it. Because it doesn’t react well in my body. Because I don’t feel good after eating it. Because I really am not hungry.
Bad answers: because it’s intrinsically bad. Because it’s full of sugar. Because I’d feel so guilty after eating it. Because if I eat even a little of it I’ll get fat. Because other people will judge me for eating it. Because it has too many fats/carbs/calories. Because if I eat it I’ll have to go burn it off.
Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars are not inherently evil.
I’m not saying that you need to eat a full fat, made with sugar treat 3 times a day. In fact, you don’t have to eat any at all if you don’t want to and you have a well thought through reason for it.
But if you’re someone who refuses to order or make dessert because you’re only truly afraid of it, I see you. I used to be you.
I used to make up so many excuses not to have an indulgence even when I really did want a bite. I would bake so many desserts and give them away without ever having a taste.
But now? Now I taste. I eat treats that I genuinely love, and I’ll pass on those that I really don’t like. (Like lemon bars 😝)
But these Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars? These are for me and Jordan. I’ve made some sort of chocolate strawberry dessert every year since our first Valentine’s Day, so you bet I’m gonna have a few of these. (Last year were these strawberry cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting. Yum!)
Happy Valentine’s Day. What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day treat? Let me know in a comment down below!
Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Whip up a batch of these Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Bars for a last minute Valentine's Day treat, or really whenever you need something indulgent.
Ingredients
Crust
- 20 Oreos (Regular or Double Stuf)
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
Filling
- 2, 8 oz blocks of full-fat cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 jar Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Sugar Strawberry Preserves plus more for serving
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper. Be sure to leave enough on the sides so that you can easily pull out the bars later!
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In a food processor or blender (or in a baggie by hand), crush the Oreos until they're a fine powder. Stir the crumbs together with the melted butter and press into the bottom of the baking pan. Pre-bake the crust for 8 minutes, then set aside.
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Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
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Prepare the filling. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese blocks until smooth, either with a mixer or good ol' elbow grease. Add the sugar, egg, vanilla, and lemon juice and mix until completely combined.
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Pour the batter on top of the warm crust and spread into an even layer.
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In a small bowl, mix up 1/4 of the jar of strawberry preserves until smooth. Dollop some spoonfuls on top of the cheesecake layer and swirl in with a butter knife.
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Bake the bars for 40-45 minutes, or until set. A toothpick should come out (mostly) clean.
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Remove from the oven and allow them to come to room temperature in the pan on a wire rack. Once it's cool, refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to one full day.
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When ready to serve, remove the chilled cheesecake from the pan using the parchment overhangs and slice into squares. Top with more strawberry preserves if desired!
