Friday, November 12, 2010

Lemon Cheesecake Bars


Wow so apparently I'm not really updating my blog anymore! The days pass so quickly and while I'm still trying out new recipes and making yummy things (though there have been some just okay things too), I seem to be falling very behind in blog land. I wonder how long food blogs will be around for anyway? Do you think people will always want to read food blogs and maintain them or will there be a new thing? Hm.


Anyway, today I'm sharing with you these amazing lemon bars. I've always loved lemon bars. My most prominent lemon bar memory was when I made a batch as a teenager and I think I ate most of the batch by myself in a weekend. Lemon bars are addictive! The thing that makes these ones a little different is the crust which has crushed lemon cookies, and then there's a layer of cream cheese on top. So you have lemon curd, cheesecake, and a crushed lemon cookie crust. I don't think you need more convincing than that!


If this sounds good, you might also like:
Buttermilk Pie Bars
Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies
Chocolate Fudge Souffle Bars
Eggnog Bars

Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Adapted from The Complete Canadian Living Baking Book

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 tbsp lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp icing sugar

Cheesecake layer
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

Base
30 lemon social tea cookies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Line a 9"x13" pan with parchment paper or grease; set aside.

Base: In food processor, whirl cookies to make 2 cups crumbs; pulse in butter until moistened. Press into prepared pan. Bake in centre of 325F oven until firm, about 12 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack.

Cheesecake layer: In bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth; beat in egg. Spread over base; set aside.

In bowl, beat eggs with sugar until thickened. Beat in lemon zest and juice, flour, and baking powder until smooth; pour over cheesecake layer. Bake in centre of 325F oven until edges are set and lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on rack. Cut into bars and refrigerate.

35 comments:

Joshua said...

cheesecake is one of the few non-Italian foods Italians die for. I'm wondering what this recipe will be like with local lemons. Thanks!
J

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Hey Ashley,
I am not much better, although I have been trying to catch up these last few days.

I think food blogs will keep going for some time because we are all so greedy for new recipes. Finger's crossed anyway.

These bars look amaing. You really didn;t need to convince me. I am going to give them a go. Can't wait to try them although I will ust use digestives for the base.

Jac
xx

kickpleat said...

I'm convinced about these lemon squares! As for blogging, I think it's totally okay to take breaks - no need to apologize.

Rachel said...

I looove lemon bars too! I remember my grandmother sending a me box of them when I first moved into the dorms freshman year.
What could be better than cheesecake and lemon bars?

Unknown said...

These look great! They remind me of the Chess Bars I make...except the base is from a cake mix and the lemon and cheesecake layers are combined into one.

Hannah said...

Those look luscious, and quite frankly, way better than the traditional lemon bar! I love lemon desserts, especially in the winter... That bright citrus flavor is just so cheerful.

Joanne said...

I love just about anything that's stuffed with this much lemon cheesecake goodness!

I hope food blogs stick around for a while because there's nothing that I enjoy more than waking up and writing about food. Gets me every time.

Chef Connie Bearden said...

Lemon bars are my kryptonite...
And we all can't be those perfect bloggers... sometimes life gets in the way.

Monica said...

Ashley, I just adore your blog. It's pretty, fun and very inspiring. Take breaks but please don't quit. I just look at it as a time to read some of your archives that I have forgotten or missed. The lemon bars look fab and will be in my tummy this time tomorrow. Thanks so much!

Hannah said...

Wow baby those look good.

Anonymous said...

Yummy lemon squares..

Sherry G said...

Lemon bars truly are addictive. As much as people may think chocolate or something is addictive, lemon bars can be just as much too! These sound like one awesome version.

Johanna GGG said...

I sometimes wonder what the future holds for food blogging but I hope there is quite a bit of life in it yet - so much yet to blog and the new recipes I keep seeing keep inspiring me. Though I love following blogs that I know and trust because they have so many great recipes (like yours) and I suspect that there will be a great turnover of bloggers over time, so if I continue bloggers it is a matter of being open to new bloggers - or maybe I will be one that falls by the wayside - I wonder about this sometimes!

As for your lemon bars - I am not familiar with the ones you love but I would probably miss the lemon curd layer and go straight for the cheesecake - despite not liking lemon sweets much I love lemon cheesecake

Missy said...

OMGOODNESS!!!! I LOVE The lemon squares so yummy. I will try it next week and post it on my blog. thank you!

peace
Missy
http://throughanindielens.blogspot.com/

Ricki said...

But what could ever replace food blogs?? I do hope you don't stop blogging--I'd miss your amazing desserts. Of which this is one, of course. ;)

briarrose said...

Lovely. I like the lemon cookie crust. I will have to remember that one. ;)

Deborah said...

Yes, blogging is very time consuming and it's hard to keep it up sometimes! But these lemon bars look absolutely perfect.

kimberleyblue said...

Lemon bars are my absolute favourite dessert. There's just something magically delicious about them.

I often go long stretches without posting anything...sometimes you're in the mood and sometimes you're not. I do hope food blogs stick around for a loooong time; almost all of my favourite dishes are ones I've found from other people on the internetz.

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

These look so gooey and delicious. I've been in a big cheesecake mood lately :).

Anonymous said...

I personally hope you keep posting. Your blog is one of my favorites and provided inspiration to start my own.

P.S. The lemon cheesecake bars look amazing.

Eileen said...

That crispy top is definitely intriguing! I may have to try these in the near future.

grace said...

lemon in desserts isn't my favorite, but even i have to admit that there's something appealing about these bars. i think it's the topping.

fresh365 said...

Lemon bars are amoung my favorite baked good but making them cheesecake lemon bars sounds just awesome!

Unknown said...

I've never had a Canadian Living recipe that failed me. They look so yummy.

elpi said...

It's mouth watering, drool. .I guess it's delicious inside and out. Love with lemon taste! perfect

Ann said...

I love lemon bars. i have to try these soon.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

I, too, have pondered about the evolution of food blogs. It seems that there's a very ambitious group that go to conferences and promote themselves, hoping to land the next cookbook contract or star in a cooking show. I like the blogs that people keep just because they love to cook and share food.

Speaking of sharing, these bars look amazing! My sister would swoon for these. Thanks for the recipe!

Unknown said...

Oh yum those sound amazingly good!! Yum yum. I feel blogs will be around for a long, long time - though we will be adapting a lot!

Christmas Sweets said...

I would always want to read food blogs and I hope the bloggers won't be too tired to update them. Even if they'd be gone for a while, I will still look forward to their posts. Anyway, your lemon bars look so moist. I've never made one because I'm a cookie girl but sure worth a try.

Christmas Sweets said...

I would always want to read food blogs and I hope the bloggers won't be too tired to update them. Even if they'd be gone for a while, I will still look forward to their posts. Anyway, your lemon bars look so moist. I've never made one because I'm a cookie girl but sure worth a try.

Anonymous said...

Beneficial info and excellent design you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great work!

test it comm said...

Those bars look so good!

rocket said...

My daughter and I made your lemon cheesecake bars and your peanut butter with oats and chocolate squares with peanut butter icing today for Christmas. They were amazing and will no doubt have to re-make for Christmas. Love your recipes. Jennifer and Rhonda

eatme_delicious said...

rocket: Aw so happy to hear you guys loved both recipes you tried! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for some quality points there. I am kind of new to online , so I printed this off to put in my file, any better way to go about keeping track of it then printing?