Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

These delightful strawberry cheesecake bars are the best no-bake summer dessert. Creamy and silky smooth strawberry cheesecake filling on a sweet graham cracker crust is decadent and easy to make.

Are you looking for a quick dessert perfect for any party you could host? Meet strawberry cheesecake bars. This recipe makes nine bars, so it’s easy to double or triple for large parties this time of year. But it’s the flavor that sets these bars apart! 

Lightly sweet with a rich, creamy base and a velvety texture that slides on your tongue – these strawberry bars are baked perfection. Plus, the light pink color and delicate strawberry slice on top are easy to decorate. The hardest part is waiting for this sweet treat to set in the fridge. 

Why You’ll Love Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

• Homemade graham cracker crust 
• Fantastic way to use fresh strawberries
• Easy, no-bake recipe
• Can be prepared ahead of time (and even frozen)  
• Bright pink color makes it perfect for parties or showers

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Graham crackers: These are the base of the bars, creating the tasty graham cracker crust. 
• Granulated sugar: Sweeten the graham cracker crust with some sugar.  
• Butter: Use unsalted butter, not margarine. It will taste so much better if you use real butter.  
• Cream cheese: This is what makes up most of the cheesecake filling. For the richest flavors, use full-fat cream cheese. 
• Strawberry pudding mix: The strawberry pudding mix gives the cheesecake bars the iconic pink color and strawberry flavor.
• Powdered sugar: This sweetens the cheesecake filling; you don’t need much since the cream cheese and strawberry pudding mix taste delicious already.  
• Milk: This is essential for helping the pudding, and cheesecake create a smooth and thick texture. 
• Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract rounds out the flavors with a deeper flavor profile. 
• Heavy whipping cream: This is optional, but you can whip up some homemade whipped cream and add it to the bars. 
• Strawberries: Even though the bars taste delicious without them, adding a strawberry slice to each bar is the perfect way to serve them. 

How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

• Step One: Crush the graham crackers in a ziplock bag with a rolling pin or use a food processor. Smash them into fine crumbs, and add the sugar and melted butter.
• Step Two: In a lined 8×8 pan, spoon in the graham cracker mixture. Smooth it out with the back of a spoon and place it into the fridge for 30 minutes. 

• Step Three: Mix the cream cheese, pudding mix, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix at low speed for at least 1-2 minutes until smooth.

• Step Four: Add the chopped strawberries to the cream cheese mixture and mix on high for another 2-3 min. If you have used vanilla pudding, add red food coloring with the strawberries to make the cheesecake pink. Also, depending on how juicy the strawberries are, you may need to add more milk. Add a little at a time until you get a thick, smooth pudding consistency. 

• Step Five: Pour the cheesecake mixture over the graham cracker base and place it back into the fridge for 4 hours. Overnight would be great, too, if you had the time.
• Step Six: Top with fresh strawberries and cream.

Equipment Needed

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• Food processor  – This is optional, but it’s much easier to chop the graham crackers into crumbs if you use a food processor. 
• 8×8 inch pan – This recipe makes enough to fill an 8×8 baking dish. Either glass or non-stick will work perfectly since it is a no-bake recipe. Any size of square pan will work. 
• Large bowl – You’ll need something large enough to mix all the ingredients, so a medium bowl can also work.  
• Hand mixer – A hand mixer or stand mixer will make the entire recipe come together in minutes without any extra effort. 
• Rubber spatula – Optional, but it helps you scrape the sides of the bowl and is the best thing to use to make an even layer on top of the crust. 

What to Serve with Strawberry Cheesecake Bars 

There’s nothing quite like the taste of desserts made with fresh strawberries, especially during strawberry season! These no-bake strawberry cheesecake bars are perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, brunch, or a summertime dessert. Here are some more incredible strawberry desserts that will look and taste perfect with the cheesecake bars. 

• Strawberry Cream Pie
• Strawberry Cupcakes 
• Strawberry Coconut Breakfast Casserole
• Strawberry Satin Pie

Variations and Substitutions

• Use a different pudding mix. For example, try it with vanilla pudding. The color won’t be as pink, so add some food colouring if you want that color. 
• Heavy cream instead of milk. In the cheesecake filling, you can make it taste a bit thicker and richer by using heavy cream instead of milk.  
• Make a chocolate crust. Create a stunning flavor contrast by crushing chocolate graham crackers for the crust. It will taste like chocolate-covered strawberries. 

Storage Instructions 

Since these cheesecake bars contain dairy, you must store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for 5-7 days. 

Can I Freeze? 

Yes, you can freeze the strawberry cheesecake bars. Wrap the bars well and place them in the freezer for 3-5 months. Either store all of the bars together in a plastic bag (like a Ziploc bag) or wrap them individually in plastic wrap. I suggest freezing them without the strawberry topping. Let them warm back up to room temperature before you serve them. 

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Tips and Tricks

• Crush the graham crackers up well. The finer the crumbs, the easier the crust will be to eat.  
• Line the pan with parchment paper. This will make the bars easier to serve and prevent the graham cracker crust from sticking.  
• If your strawberries are juicy, you might have to add more milk. Add a tiny bit of milk at a time until you get a thick and smooth pudding consistency.   
• Let it set for as long as possible. The cheesecake takes about four hours to set completely, but overnight is best. 

What Are Strawberry Cheesecake Bars? 

Strawberry cheesecake bars are a fun variation of classic strawberry cheesecake. You can cut them into small pieces and feed an entire crowd at a party. 

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries? 

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones. Let them thaw first, then strain as much water from them as possible. Frozen strawberries will have more moisture, so you’ll have to add more milk until you get the thicker, pudding-like consistency. 

FAQ

Cheesecake Recipes   

Want more cheesecake? Here are some of my favorite cheesecake desserts:

• Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake: This incredible dessert combines two pies: creamy pumpkin pie and rich cheesecake. 
• Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake: The cinnamon crumb filling on top of a graham cracker crust makes this a popular recipe year-round. 
• Brownie Bottom Cheesecake: Your favorite cheesecake filling on top of a decadent brownie; dessert doesn’t get better than this! 
• Cappuccino Cheesecake: Flavored with real, brewed coffee, this cheesecake is perfect for brunch. 
• Butterscotch Cheesecake Bars: People of all ages love these cheesecake bars because they taste like a candy bar. 

You’ll also like these Lime Cheesecake Parfaits, Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies and Strawberry Pretzel Salad.

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