Description
Delightful cheesecake bars that combine floral lavender and sweet blueberries, perfect for summer desserts or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pint blueberries, divided
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup crushed graham crackers
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- Pinch of salt
- 16 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/8 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons cold butter
Instructions
- Make the Blueberry Lavender Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1.5 cups of blueberries, water, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Add the dried lavender using a tea strainer and steep for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9×9 square baking pan with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and a pinch of salt. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan evenly. Bake for 10 minutes, then let it cool completely.
- Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, eggs, sugar, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and combined. Pour the cheesecake batter evenly over the cooled crust. Remove the lavender from the syrup and drizzle the syrup evenly over the cheesecake filling. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup blueberries on top.
- Make the Crumb Topping: In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, sliced almonds, and cold butter. Use a fork or pastry cutter to mix until it resembles coarse sand. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the cheesecake filling and blueberry syrup.
- Bake the Bars: Bake the bars for 35-40 minutes until the cheesecake is mostly set but still has a slight jiggle in the center. Allow to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.
Notes
Serve chilled, garnished with extra blueberries or a drizzle of blueberry syrup. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: cheesecake, dessert, blueberry, lavender, summer treats