Cheesecake Cranberry Bars

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars are very easy to make. When you combine cranberry sauce and white chocolate chips with cheesecake to make these Cheesecake Cranberry Bars, you’ve created a fantastic dessert! The tart flavor of cranberries paired with the sweet cream cheese, white chocolate chips, and oats, makes these bars very crumbly-berry delicious!

Perfect to make ahead and freeze for the holidays.

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars are festive enough for any holiday season.

Perfect to bring these cheesecake cranberry bars to any get-together or gathering and they will disappear in a flash! These are so good, that we guarantee these bars will be loved by kids and adults alike, and we are absolutely sure of that! These are very easy to make, bake, and chill!  ๐Ÿ™‚

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars by 2sistersrecipes.com

To make them… 

  • For my recipe, I used wholeberry cranberry sauce.  Plus, my crumble mixture is used for both the crust and the topping.
  • Also, I added some lemon juice to the cheesecake mixture to balance out the tartness of the cranberries.
  • White chocolate chips add a wonderful dimension and texture to these cheesecake cranberry bars, offering a soft crumble in every bite, making them irresistible!

Can we use our leftover cranberry sauce? If you plan to make these bars after Thanksgiving – this recipe is a great way to use some of your leftover cranberry sauce!

You only need about 1 + 1/2 cups (up to 2 cups) of whole-berry cranberry sauce, and the batter only needs minutes to prepare and bake for 25 minutes. A win-win. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars by 2sistersrecipes.com

How To Make Cheesecake Cranberry Bars?

* Follow our Step-by-Step directions, or jump down to the bottom for our full recipe card!

Ingredients Needed for these Bars (with affiliate links):

Directions To Make Cheesecake Cranberry Bars (3-Easy-Steps):

    Step 1:  Make the Crumble Mixture:

1.  In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and oats.  Cut butter into pieces and mix into flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.  You can use a pastry cutter or both hands to crumble the mixture.

2.  Next, stir in white chocolate chips,  and reserve 2 and 1/2 cups of crumb mixture for the topping.  3.  Press the remaining crumble mixture into a lightly greased 12″ x 9″ deep baking dish.  Set aside.

 

    Step 2:  Make the Cheesecake Filling:

1.  In the same large bowl (no need to rinse the bowl) beat cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.  Beat until creamy and smooth.

2.  Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.   Spread a layer evenly using the back of a spoon.

 

    Step 3:  Make the Cranberry Filling:

1. Combine and blend the cranberry sauce with cornstarch and spoon over the cream cheese mixture in a small bowl.  The cranberry sauce will be a very thin layer, so spread it evenly, the best you can.
2.  Finally, sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture on top.  Lightly press down on top of the crumble with the palm of your hands, to set it firmly.

3.  Preheat oven to 350 F degrees (178 C).  BAKE for 22 – 28 minutes, or until golden. Allow cooling completely before cutting into bars.  Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving, or overnight.  Best served chilled.

Yields: 2 dozen bars

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars by 2sistersrecipes.com

Questions and Tips…

  1. When is it best to cut them into bars? We recommend allowing it to cool completely and even refrigerate for an hour before cutting it into bars.
  2. Can we make these bars dairy-free? Currently, we have not tested that to advise, but there are many choices of dairy-free cream cheese and dairy-free coconut condensed milk on Amazon.
  3. Can we make them gluten-free? Also, we have not tested that to advise. But, you may choose an all-purpose GF flour and use the same amount in measurements in the recipe card.
  4. How to Freeze these bars? It’s best to line an airtight container with wax or parchment paper. Place the bars in a single layer, and separate layers with a sheet of parchment on top. Bars can be frozen for up to 1 month.
  5. How to Thaw? Arrange bars on a serving platter, and place them on a buffet table, they will quickly thaw at room temperature and in less than 10 minutes.

These cheesecake cranberry bars turned out so good; they were even better than I had expected.

Best of all, you can make these bars two weeks ahead and freeze them! Then transfer them to a serving plate and serve. So go ahead and make them! ENJOY!!

More Delicious Desserts and Bars… 

Yield: 2 dozen

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars by 2sistersrecipes.com

Cheesecake Cranberry Bars are creamy and sweet tasting with a delicious flavor of cranberries throughout. So yummy and perfect treat for the holidays! These bars will surely disappear as soon as they hit your buffet table!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1+ 3/4 cups Quaker oats, uncooked or Quick oats
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 3/4 cup (or 12 Tbsp.) butter, softened
  • 1 + 3/4 cups white chocolate chips
  • 8-ounce package cream cheese - at room temperature
  • 14-ounce can sweeten condensed milk
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 14-ounce can whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. corn starch

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C). Lightly spray with cooking spray, a 12 X 9-inch baking dish, and set it aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and oats.
  3. Cut butter into pieces and mix into flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.
  4. Stir in white chocolate chips and reserve 2 and 1/2 cups of crumble mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture into a greased 12" x 9" x 2+1/2" baking dish. Set aside.
  5. FOR THE Cheesecake FILLING: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy. Pour cream cheese mixture over the crust. Spread evenly.
  6. For the CRANBERRY FILLING: Combine cranberry sauce with corn starch, blend well. Then spoon over the cream cheese mixture. The cranberry sauce will be a very thin layer, so spread it evenly, the best you can.
  7. Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture on top. Then use your hand to lightly press down on the topping to set it firmly.
  8. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, or until golden. Allow cooling completely before cutting into bars. It's best to chill for an hour or more before cutting into bars. or chill overnight. Then cut into bars.
  9. Best served chilled.
  10. Yields: 2 dozen

Notes

Step-by-Step photos in our post.

Quick Tips for Success:

  • We recommend when baking is done, allow it to cool completely and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight before cutting it into bars.
  • These bars are easier to cut after they have been chilled for a few hours.ย  You can serve them frozen too.ย  They are so good, chilled, or frozen.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24 servings

Serving Size:

1 bar

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 334Total Fat: 15.3gFiber: 1.8gSugar: 24.6gProtein: 5.4g

Did you make this recipe?

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Cheesecake Cranberry Bars by 2sistersrecipes.com
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 serving
Servings: 24
Amount per serving 
Calories334
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15.3g20%
Saturated Fat 9.2g46%
Cholesterol 34mg11%
Sodium 105mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 44g16%
Dietary Fiber 1.8g6%
Total Sugars 24.6g 
Protein 5.4g 
Vitamin D 4mcg20%
Calcium 90mg7%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 177mg4%

If you make our delicious cheesecake cranberry bars, let us know and leave a comment and a star rating below.  We’d love to hear from you!

Have fun and snap a photo and hashtag it on Pinterest, or tag us on Instagram @2sistersrecipes.  It’s fun to see what you cook! ๐Ÿ™‚

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Happy Baking!  ๐Ÿ™‚

Thanks for stopping by!  

 xo Anna and Liz

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Welcome! From Anna and Liz

We believe the kitchen is the center and the heart of the home. It is where we cook, eat, and unwind with family and friends, creating memorable traditions! Read more…

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6 Comments

  1. I made these gluten free by using gluten-free Bobs Red Mill oats and gluten free flour King Arthurโ€™s all purpose flour. Absolutely delicious.

    1. Thank you Denise!! So glad you had a great outcome using gluten-free oats and GF flour!! Everyone will be thrilled to hear that they can enjoy these cheesecake cranberry bars gluten-free!! Thanks again! Happy Baking ! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. These look amazing!! Just pinned them on Pinterest. Will try when not dieting to lose those holiday pounds!