Lemon Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Bars

by Miami Food Network

Lemon Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Bars

The bright, lemon flavor of these creamy Lemon Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Bars will put a smile on your face! An easy dessert for Easter, Mother's Day, or any spring occasion!

Have you tried Greek yogurt cheesecake? If you haven’t, I think you’re gonna LOVE it. This recipe has zero cream cheese – that creamy cheesecake layer is all thanks to Greek yogurt. It’s light, tangy, and will completely satisfy your cheesecake cravings!

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust:

  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour or all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest from 1 small lemon
  • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon cold milk

For the Cheesecake:

  • 3 cups full fat Greek yogurt 2% will work but we prefer these with the full-fat yogurt
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 eggs
  • heaping tablespoon lemon zest
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice you will need 2-3 medium lemons for zest and juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • fresh berries for serving

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper so that you have a parchment overhang on two opposite sides.

Make the Shortbread Crust:

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Add in the butter cubes and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 more minutes, until pieces of butter are the size of very small peas. Turn mixer off, add the milk, and mix on medium-low speed until the dough holds together when you press it with your fingers, 1-2 minutes more. It will still look a bit crumbly.
  • Transfer dough to prepared pan and use your fingers to press the dough into an even layer in the bottom of the pan. Bake crust for about 15 minutes, until barely golden. Place on a wire rack to cool slightly while you make the filling.

Make the Greek Yogurt Cheesecake:

  • Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
  • Wash out the mixer bowl and return it to the stand mixer. Place Greek yogurt, sugar, and cornstarch in the mixer bowl and mix until well combined. Add in eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
  • Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of baked crust and spread into an even layer. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until cheesecake is just set.
  • Let cheesecake cool on a wire rack for 1-2 hours, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours before serving.
  • When ready to serve, use the parchment overhang to carefully remove the bars from the pan. Slice into 12 bars, top with fresh berries, and serve. Cheesecake bars will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

These cheesecake bars are gorgeous! Love the idea of using Greek yogurt to make the bars a little healthier. Really like the yummy tangy lemon flavour and the shortbread base. These are the perfect dessert for Easter and spring.

- Miami Food Network -

These Greek yogurt cheesecake bars are just bursting with bright lemon flavor. I made mine with Meyer lemons… yum! I like to serve these with a few fresh berries on top. They are so pretty with the berries and make a lovely lighter dessert for any spring occasion!

 

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