These cherry cheesecake bars are so rich and creamy with a layer of fresh cherries baked on top! The sweet flavor of the cherries paired with almond flavored cheesecake and an almond crumble take these to the next level. It’s the perfect way to celebrate cherry season!
WHAT YOU NEED graham crackers granulated sugar cream cheese cornstarch vanilla extract almond extract sour cream eggs fresh cherries all purpose flour brown sugar old-fashioned oats sliced almonds unsalted butter kosher salt
1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper. 2. Combine all of the ingredients and press into the bottom of the pan. 3. Bake for 10 minutes.
Graham Cracker Crust
1. While that bakes, make the filling. 2. In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch. 3. Scrape down the bowl and mix again, just until smooth.
Cherry Cheesecake
4. Now mix in the extracts and sour cream. Once combined, scrape down the bowl and mix again. 5. Lastly, mix in the eggs until smooth. Scrape down the bowl to make sure there are no lumps. 6. Set aside. Prep the cherries at this time if you haven’t already.
1. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. 2. Drop in the cubes of butter and use your fingers to work it into the crumble mixture. 3. Stop when the ingredients appear evenly moistened with some pea-sized lumps of butter throughout.
Almond Crumble
1. Pour the cheesecake batter over the crust and spread even. 2. Drop the cherries on top in an even layer, covering as much of the cheesecake as possible. 3. Sprinkle the crumble on top and bake for 35-40 minutes. It’s done when the crumble is golden and there’s a slight wobble in the center of the cheesecake.
Assemble
4. Then shut off the oven, crack open the door, and leave the cheesecake inside for another 10 minutes. 5. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for a couple hours or until completely set. 6. This is optional, but I suggest freezing the bars for about an hour before slicing as this helps create cleaner cuts. 7. Serve chilled and enjoy!