Crisp, sweet crunchy gluten free crust with creamy New York Style Cheesecake filling topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries. These Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars are a Patriotic sweet treat sure to disappear at your holiday cookout.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword 4th of july desserts, fresh berry cheesecake bars, gluten free cheesecake bars
Prep Time 50 minutesminutes
Cook Time 50 minutesminutes
Chill 4 hourshours
Total Time 5 hourshours40 minutesminutes
Servings 16servings
Calories 306kcal
Author Lauren
Ingredients
Crust
3cupsgluten free oats (or substitute old fashioned oats)255g
½cuplight brown sugar113g
2tablespoonshoney
1teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonkosher salt
¼cup+ 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
6tablespoonsunsalted butter
Filling
2 8-ounce packages cream cheesesoftened
½cupgranulated sugar100g
2large eggs
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1tablespooncornstarch
Strawberry Topping
3cupsdiced strawberriesabout 20 berries
¼cupgranulated sugar50g
¼cuplight brown sugar50g
¼cupcornstarch28g
2teaspoonlemon juice
Blueberry Topping
3cupsdiced blueberries
¼cupgranulated sugar50g
¼cuplight brown sugar50g
¼cupcornstarch28g
2teaspoonlemon juice
Apricot Glaze (Optional)
¼cupapricot preserves
2tablespoonsunsalted butter
Instructions
Crust
Preheat and Mix:. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 13x9 pan, combine the oats, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, salt and oil. Using your hands, evenly distribute the ingredients. Spread into an even layer in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Cool and Blend:. After baking let the oats cool completely, about 10 to 15 minutes. Oats will harden as they cool to a granola-like texture, stir occasionally to keep from sticking to the pan. Transfer to a food processor. Pulse 2 to 3 times to break up any larger pieces then process on high for 30 to 60 seconds until the oats resemble coarse crumbs.
Butter and stir: Add the coarse oat crumbs to a medium size bowl. While stirring, slowly pour melted butter over the oats. Line a 13x9 pan with parchment paper, spread the buttered crumbs and press down into an even layer.
Filling
Preheat: the oven to 350°F.
Mix: In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until creamy about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Beat the sugar into the cream cheese until fully incorporated – 2 minutes – scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Mix: On low speed, add the vanilla and corn starch. Add the eggs, one at a time. Raise the speed to medium and mix until the ingredients are well incorporated incorporated, about 1 minute.
Pour: Pour the batter into the pressed crust and spread.
Topping
Mix: In a bowl combine strawberries, sugars, cornstarch and lemon juice. In a separate bowl, repeat with the blueberries.
Divide and conquer:. Using 3 pieces of aluminum foil, separate the filling into 4 columns, pressing a little bit into the filling so it stays upright. Divide the strawberries between the first and third columns, top the remaining columns with the blueberries.
Bake and chill: Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. Let chill for at least 4 hours, overnight is best.
Optional glaze: In a small saucepan combine the apricot preserves and butter over low heat. Once combined and bubbling, turn off heat and brush over the fruit.