Cheesecake bars can be made in a variety of ways, commonly with fruit topping, or with no fruit added. Alternatives to traditional style cheesecake bars include low-fat and gluten-free varieties. Low-fat cheesecake bars are made with low fat cream cheese, for fewer calories and less fat. In addition, there are various styles of cheesecake, such as New York style and French style. Cheesecake bars include the traditional baked varieties and no-bake recipes.
Gluten-free cheesecake is made without any wheat flour, and the typical graham cracker crust may be replaced with an all-nut crust. To make the crust for the gluten free cheesecake bar, chopped nuts may be used, in addition to gluten-free flour. Other ingredients used for making the gluten-free cheesecake crust may include brown sugar and butter or margarine. This cheesecake is typically made with regular or low fat-cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and a dash of vanilla if desired.
For convenience, cheesecake varieties may be prepared using a no-bake recipe. Ingredients for the no-bake bars may be homemade or from a store bought mix. After the cheesecake ingredients are poured into a crust, the mixture will be refrigerated for several hours or until firm. When the cheesecake is firm, it can be cut into bars or squares.
Dairy-free cheesecake bars are a good alternative for those who are lactose intolerant. Soy cream cheese can be substituted for regular dairy cream cheese. The texture and flavor of dairy-free cheesecake made with soy differs somewhat from the traditional recipe. Soy cream cheese is typically sold in tubs or bars, and will need to be softened before preparing the recipe.
Whether using a low-fat, gluten-free, or dairy-free recipe, there are various flavors of cheesecake bars. Pumpkin cheesecake is a popular choice during autumn. This tasty cheesecake can be made with canned pumpkin, cinnamon, and allspice.
Fruit pie filling may be used for fruit-flavored cheesecake bars. Alternately, fresh fruit topping may be added to the bars before or after being baked. Cherry, strawberry, and pineapple are popular cheesecake choices. For a sweet variation, chocolate chip cheesecake bars may be made with semi-sweet or milk-chocolate chips.
Some people prefer a mixed berry cheesecake bar. The mixed berry cheesecake may be made with frozen mixed berries that have been thawed. Alternately, blackberry and raspberry preserves may be used for this cheesecake recipe. In addition, mixed berry yogurt adds a creamy texture to cheesecake bars.