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Bad things are brewing in my kitchen.
I have three pounds of Callebaut chocolate sitting (hiding) in my purse.  Three trays of brownies to bake for two bake sales.  (Yes, my brownies are going to be at the National Food Bloggers Bake Sale NYC!  So what time will you be stopping by?)
My hair is in some kind of bun/ponytail that I apparently attempted to master whilst sleeping.  Mastery in REM is not  my forte.  For the record.  No, I’m probably not going to take it out before I leave my apartment.  It has a look to it.  Not the kind of look that will get me married or even a first date.  But a look nonetheless.
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And instead of tackling those brownies or making myself look a person who is not on hallucinogenic drugs.  I woke up yesterday and was struck by the notion that blueberries exist in this world.
They do.  They really do.
And not only that, but they desperately need to be baked with!
So I consulted with you people on Twitter.  And you all said cheesecake.  I suggested a myriad of baked blueberry goods.  And all I got in response was “cheesecake CHEESECAKE CHEESECAKE”.  You people have one track minds.
I like it.
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And thus, on a wing and a prayer and with a little nudging from cyberspace, these lemon blueberry cheesecake bars were brought into this world at approximately 9AM on Thursday morning.  And it was love at first taste test.  And second taste test.  And third taste test.
Okay, let’s just not talk about taste tests anymore.  Instead, let’s just suffice it to say that lemon and blueberry were meant to be together, especially when a lemony cream cheese base and a cinnamon graham cracker crust is involved.
And in case you’re worried about the state of my thighs after making these, have no fear.  I gave the vast majority (post taste testing, of course) to my physical therapist after he complained last week that I baked brownies without bringing him any.  (Apparently if you want baked goods from me, all you have to do is bitch and moan a little. I’m a pushover.)
I even convinced him that they were healthy.  “Look, blueberries!”  I said.
And when he looked at me dubiously, I put my hands on my hips and said, “Trust me, I’m a doctor.”
He knows that’s not true, but sometimes people only hear what they want to hear.  And, well.  That’s really not my fault now is it?**Before you go, feel free to check out my latest post on Marcus Samuelsson’s site!

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Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Makes 1 8×8-inch pan, adapted from Tyler Florence 

2 tbsp sugar
9 cinnamon graham crackers
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
a pinch of salt
16 oz reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
2 lemons, juiced and zested
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Grease the bottom of an 8×8-inch pan.  Cover it with parchment paper and then grease that.  In a food processor, process the sugar and graham crackers until they are the texture of bread crumbs.  Add in the melted butter and pulse a couple of times to fully incorporate.  Pour into the lined baking pan and gently pat down with the base of a glass.  Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden.  Set aside to cool.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cream cheese, eggs, lemon juice and zest, and sugar, mixing until well-combined and smooth.  Pour onto the cooled graham cracker base.  Sprinkle the blueberries on top.
4. Bake for 35 minutes or until the center only jiggles slightly.  Remove from the oven and cool completely before refrigerating for 3 hours.
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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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109 Responses to Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

  1. janet says:

    Love it, Joanne. I remember the first time I introduced myself as a doctor. I don’t do it nearly enough anymore. 😉

  2. Shannon says:

    I LOVE cheesecake. Save me a piece… I’m gonna go see if I can get a ticket for BoltBus.

  3. These cheesecake bars look perfect! What time will you be at the bake sale tomorrow? I’d love to come say hi!

  4. Jessica says:

    This looks delicious! Yum!!

  5. Eliana says:

    Hmmmm – I’m in love! My thighs want to know if you saved them a bar or two or three!

  6. “Bad things are brewing in my kitchen”. Is your kitchen the same at bloggers office because bad things have been brewing there:) Good luck with the bake sale and have a great weekend

  7. Nicole says:

    Wow – those look delicious! Might have to try them this weekend!

  8. That Girl says:

    I don’t know why, but lately I love lemon blueberry anything!

  9. Lemon and blueberry are a perfect match, This looks mouth watering delicious! The crust alone is incredible.

  10. Corina says:

    If I had cream cheese in the fridge I would make these right away. I even have a pack of blueberries sitting staring at me!

  11. Thank you, Dr. Joanne. 🙂 These look perfect for this time of year – I’m excited to get some blueberries so I can make these.

  12. Swathi says:

    Lemon and blueberry cheese cake. I am in. I have to take a flight ticket to attend the bake sale. this one looks awesome.

  13. Catherine says:

    What a wonderful combination of ingredients for a delicious dessert. Have a wonderful day Joanne. Blessings, Catherine xoxo

  14. MeghanM says:

    OMG. I am going to make puppy-dog-eyes at my husband until he makes these for me. And yes, the blueberries TOTALLY make this healthy.

  15. sofia says:

    yum yum yum. blogger bake sale? when? where? how? sounds like fun!

  16. Oh yeah for a fun and bright dish! I love the colors and flavors. So light and fresh. I am obsessing right now over plums, strawberries and lemons (if you haven;t noticed!) so this is perfect for me. Perfect for this hot summer weekend! Thanks girl

  17. Danielle says:

    This sounds really good – I love the pics too!

  18. Shannon says:

    fabulous, i’ve made these before, and love them. i should… not make them right now 😉 have fun with the chocolate!!

  19. kankana says:

    OMG the pics .. those bar with that gorgeous berries are popping out of my lappy screen. You make it look so so so lively and delicious !!

  20. Now you went and did it. I have to have some cheesecake. Now. Only I can’t bake!

  21. Ooh these look delicious!! Your physical therapist is one lucky man!

  22. Simply Life says:

    i’m thinking about driving to NY just to try these!…

  23. Tasha says:

    Good job at being able to share these. I’m not sure I’d have the willpower with such an awesome dessert!

  24. Beautifully picturized, love it 🙂

  25. Amy says:

    Lemon, cream cheese, and blueberries all in one. You’re killing me. We ALWAYS have blueberries in the house. Seems like we go through a tub every other day…my kids eat them like candy. As do I. However, right now I’m obsessing over bing cherries. I see they’re finally in season and I almost died when I saw them at the market. Maybe I could add some of these to these bars…be still my heart.

  26. Megan says:

    Gorgeous cheesecake bars… these or blueberry muffins with tons of crumb topping are exactly what I would make with blueberries.

  27. Amazing looking bars.You cant go wrong with cream cheese, lemon & blueberries.I love the colorful polka napkin you used as a contrast!

  28. Maria says:

    That looks incredible Joanne! I would love a slice right about now! 😉

  29. Delicious! You just can’t beat a cheesecake bar, unless it’s with a blueberry lemon cheesecake bar.

  30. Martha (MM) says:

    So delicious! I wish I could beg you to make it again just for me but no, my 16 year old son is heading your way soon but without me 🙁

    If you see a big 6’3″ handsome Italian boy wandering the streets asking where Joanne lives (because he has heard about your awesome food!) that will be my boy. Take him in and feed him will ya? And send some leftovers back home for me 🙂

  31. girlichef says:

    Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I’m totally needing some blueberries right now…in this form, preferrably 😉

  32. Mary says:

    These really look wonderful Joanne. I love blueberries and am always looking for new ways in which to use them. I think I’ve just found a nother. Have a great weekend. Blessings…Mary

  33. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    Yum yum yum! Cheesecake, lemon and blueberries….I would be in heaven 🙂

  34. vanillasugar says:

    3 lbs of chocolate? i couldn’t do that. i would eat it. don’t know if i’ve tried calebut? (sp?)
    is it the high cocoa one?
    anywho, these bars look and sound good.

  35. Vivienne says:

    blueberries are the first thing i saw when i opened my fridge this morning…then i turned on my reader and saw this post…must be a sign!

    have fun at the brownie bake sales too 🙂

  36. Kristen says:

    I love the way those blueberries look suspended in the air above the cheesecake in that last photo. You definitely did good!!

  37. Pam says:

    Blueberries and lemons, a match made in heaven.

  38. Oh these look so delicious! I love blueberries and lemons so this looks like a great recipe for me to try.

  39. Johanna GGG says:

    hey you don’t bring me anything either (just seeing if it really works if I complain enough if your baked goods will come my way)

    and in all honesty I would love you to send these cheesecake bars my way – they sounds delicious

  40. Miriam says:

    I actually love you for this recipe and I’m going to make it for my upcoming anniversary :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

  41. Kim says:

    Hooray for Tyler! I remember what a popular recipe this was back in the TFF days. I still have it listed as one of his recipes I’d like to make. They look gorgeous!

  42. I agree,they are made for each other and perfectly so!
    And u sure have made wonderful and baked perfect for the bake sale , der will be brownies everywer, but u will shine with these (bdw, wer on earth is dat purse hidden with choco to be found?)
    Till we find those lemme indulge in some eye candy of these (am sure v delicious) brownies.
    YEah they will sure pass every taste test , always !

  43. Allison says:

    Those bars look as gorgeous as I am sure you do in your bun pony! Good times at the bake sale. Cheers!

  44. These look so good! Cheesecake and blueberries seem like a perfect combination…Probably good that you gave most of them away, I don’t think that they would have lasted long otherwise!

  45. I have always loved the combination of lemon and blueberries–these look decadent and delicious.
    😉

  46. We are 12 hours ahead of you – so this is still not too late- wishing you a big sell out at the bake sale – you really should also include the blueberry cheesecake in the bake sale!

  47. The blueberry cheesecake bars look so good!
    Have fun at baked goods sale!
    Angie

  48. Barbara says:

    Perfect summer dessert, Joanne!
    And good luck with the blogger bake sale….

  49. Debbie says:

    Delicious Joanne Delicious!!!! Oh and they look incredible too!

  50. crustabakes says:

    YAY for lemon and blueberries!! and anything with fruits in it definitely lists itself as healthy automatically. LOL

  51. Mo 'Betta says:

    I loooove blueberries and lemon. And cinnamon. and sugar. and butter. This is a problem. You are so nice to bake for everyone 🙂

  52. Love the pictures, love cheesecake and of course adore blueberries!It is not fair that there is an ocean between these babies and me …

  53. BigAppleNosh says:

    Yum – perfect for summer!

  54. marla says:

    Wish I could try your bake sale goodies! I can only imagine how fun this event will be in NYC. Best of luck to you all 🙂

  55. I love how the healthy aspect of the blueberries cancel out all the fat and calories of the “cheese cake” These look wonderful!

  56. These are so pretty! Cheesecake and blueberrys are a perfect combo. I just made your pecan pie bars the other day and holy cow were those GOOD! Luckily I gave most away otherwise it would have been a dangerous situation. The next day they tasted like candy. Total yum!

  57. Nadji says:

    Les bleuets rajoutent beaucoup de goût au cheesecake. Une version qui me plait beaucoup.
    See soon.

  58. daphne says:

    oh it’s beautiful! and if i hv a plane ticket, I would LOVE to fly to NY NOW! These are worth every single min of the boxing session I had!

  59. Veronica says:

    I suddenly wish I lived in NY so I could buy some of your brownies! Actually, what I’d really like is these cheesecake bars, but I guess I’ll have to make those myself. Does whining in a comment make you want to ship baked goods to your readers? If so, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I want some cheesecake so bad! Pack it on dry ice for me will ya? 😉

  60. Those look beautiful. I think you should go with your look girl. Work it. (teeeheeee, halucinagenic drug inspired fashion is all the rage in N.Y. I’ve heard…;)
    Would you break up with me if I told you I didn’t love cheescake?…. crazy huh?

  61. Dawn says:

    I love that the blueberries are left whole! I will have to make this for our next cookout. Mmmm…..

  62. Katerina says:

    Unfortunately here we do not have blueberries! But I can always admire it from your photos my dear friend! It’s so good to be back!

  63. Fortunately I have enough will power to overcome my will power. This means I will not be starting my diet (again) until after I obtain some blueberries and make this. You, my friend, are a diet spoiler extraordinaire!

    Best,
    Bonnie

  64. Kerstin says:

    They are certainly healthy with all those blueberries 🙂 The perfect spring treat!

  65. Greg says:

    I knew there was a reason I bought blueberries today!

  66. Peggy says:

    These look beautiful! And I love the cloth with the dots on it! Where ever did you get it?!

  67. Such springy and bright cheesecake bars! Lemon and blueberry are such an amazing duo. How was the bake sale? I am amazed by all the crazy bloggers like me. I have never been to a blog anything before. Whew…the baked goods look dressed to the nines and so did the people.

  68. tigerfish says:

    I like your generosity of blueberries on the cheesecake 😉

  69. Pam says:

    What’s not to love about these beauties?!?

  70. Reeni says:

    Blueberries + cheesecake + bars = true love! Hope you’re bake sale went good!

  71. Lemon and blueberry… blueberry and lemon… no matter how you slice it, a match made in heaven. PLEASE tell me you did something with your three pounds of chocolate in your purse!! Did you put all of it in the brownies?? You love Callebaut, too.. I knew I loved you for many, many reasons 🙂

  72. Hope the bake sale was a success! If everything looked as delicious as these, I’m sure it was 🙂

  73. What a lovely combination! Truly tempting and delicious..

  74. Yummmm….you seriously never cease to amaze me. Your pictures are mesmerizing and your recipes are just too delicious. Haha I always tell people it is healthy and to trust me, I’m a dietician 🙂 {almost}

  75. You got that one, right. Lemon and blueberries… a match made in heaven. I haven’t made a cheesecake in about three years. Why? Because I’d eat the entire cheesecake. They’re beautiful. Great photos. You always make me laugh. I forget how YOUNG you are, because you are so wise and smart for your youth. SIGH.

  76. Lora says:

    Gorgeous bars. Perfect for the season.

  77. Sook says:

    Ah, blueberries and lemon! I bet the cake tastes perfect!

  78. Lenna says:

    This cheesecake looks awesome! Well, I love everything with blueberries, they are pretty and tasty:)

  79. OohLookBel says:

    Three of my favourite things – lemon, blueberries and cheesecake – all in one place. Win! Oh, and the fact that reduced fat cream cheese is used – bonus points.

  80. Candace says:

    If I can find my 8×8 pan and some blueberries, I am making these. yum! Better yet….these would be the most perfect house-warming present for Candace. 🙂

  81. Claudie says:

    Yesterday, I did a speed-hill run combo, and I thought my legs were dead. Today, I’m finally taking a look at your cheesecake bars, and… I’m considering doing another combo run just so I can go bake some of that cheesecake for myself afterwards! Those bars look THAT good. Now, poor legs of mine… lol 🙂

  82. Lemon and blueberries are great together, and these would do serious damage to my thighs. Cheesecake was a terrific plan for the blueberries.

  83. Astra Libris says:

    AMAZING!!! You are wonder woman!!! How do you manage to make the most beautiful confections, become a blog-star, AND rock medical school?! You are my hero! 🙂

  84. Amazing, Joanne! I don’t know how you do it all. Every time I read one of your posts that’s what I think! Those blueberries look gorgeous. I think I need to buy some this week. 🙂

  85. Ada says:

    Yummmm those look amazing! Magnolia makes a similar bluberry dessert that my mom goes gaga for, maybe I’ll make these for her birthday.

    SO cool that you participated in the NYC Blogger Bakesale, wish I had been in the city to attend it. Have a nice Sunday evening!

  86. Nothing better than fresh blueberries! Unless, of course, they’re embedded in cheesecake. Obviously 🙂

    Sues

  87. Love cheesecake! Iv never actually baked with blueberries before. Love blueberry conserve though. These bars look delish 🙂

  88. Carolyn Jung says:

    I hear ya on the perfect marriage of lemon and blueberry. Truly a knockout combo. Might I add that when you throw cream cheese into that mix, you just can’t lose! 😉

  89. Debbie says:

    I will definitely be making this…..these are a few of my favorite things! I agree lemon and blueberries are a wonderful marriage, but my favorite crust to add to this “marriage” is gingersnaps and almonds. Thanks for sharing!

  90. I missed the conversation, but I would have demanded cheesecake as well!

    Oh these are so much fun! Gosh I could use one of these right now. They just look wonderful!

  91. Beautiful flavours and amazing photographs.

  92. Elizabeth says:

    Those look perfect – and a great picture!

  93. Blueberries, lemons – I’d say this is about as close to health-food as you can get. They look and sound positively divine – any time you’re making them again, I would be more than happy to help out with the taste testing.

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog the other day – it was so lovely to hear from you 🙂

    Sue xo

  94. lemon blueberry things hold a special place in my heart. these look great!

  95. grace says:

    three pounds of chocolate sitting my house eventually equals three pounds of flubber on my tukhis…
    i love bleeding blueberries–great bars!

  96. These look so pretty with all the blueberries on top! Such a lovely dessert!

  97. Ah, I love berries. Especially dotted into cheesecake. Lob one up here!

  98. elly says:

    YES, so glad you went with the cheesecake! 🙂 These look delicious. I love anything with blueberry and lemon – adding blueberries to Ina’s lemon yogurt cake is another favorite. 🙂

  99. aipi says:

    Looks fantastic, gorgeous n amazing ~ I could devour it all in no time :))
    US Masala

  100. cam says:

    WOW. these look so good. my son would love them! his favorite fruit are blueberries! maybe mommy will attempt!

  101. Juliana says:

    Oh! These blueberries cheesecake bars look so yummie…so cute how they came out…always like the combination of lemon and blueberries. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead Joanne 🙂

  102. Julie says:

    These look so delicious. Good luck with the bake sale, wish I could attend!

  103. Lori says:

    Oh, wow. These look so good. I may have to try them with strawberries until the blueberries come on around here!

  104. Good Lord, just kill me now. I need to stop reading your blog, I am far too hungry to be exposed to these heavenly pictures.

  105. Tammy says:

    Wow gorgeous, Joanne! These lemon cheesecake bars are so pretty and look delicious!

    xx,
    Tammy

  106. So bright and fresh — perfect for spring/summer =D

  107. Bizzy says:

    I am planning to make cheesecake for a special time, in a few weeks. This looks like a lovely choice for that occasion.

  108. SnoWhite says:

    I’m definitely behind the 8-ball on seeing this post, but oh my! These look perfect.

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