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Anyone who knows me would be surprised to find me indulging my sweet tooth in anything that doesn’t contain chocolate. Just like my “food,” I like my desserts to be worth the extra calories! Apart from all-things dark chocolate, lemon bars are one of my all-time favorite desserts. I particularly like the blending of sweet and tart flavors softened by fresh cream cheese against the backdrop of a crumbly, buttery graham cracker crust.
Blueberry season peaks from May to August, and I’ve been seeing an abundance of these mildly sweet berries at my local Walmart. My plan was to make lemon bars, but with blueberries on sale for prices I just couldn’t resist, I thought I’d incorporate these into my recipe. I varied by buttery graham cracker crumble recipe slightly to adapt for a crispy baked crust, whipped up a lemon cheesecake mixture and topped these bars with fresh blueberries. The result was absolutely exquisite.
Since blueberries are at their peak right now, you likely won’t have difficulty finding fruit that is plump, juicy and sweet. But if you’re like us and purchase blueberries year-round, here are some tips for buying fresh blueberries:
- Look for berries that are firm, dry and plump
- I avoid berries with stems or leaves
- Blueberries that are red are not ripe and won’t ripe now that they are off the the bush. Opt for berries that are deep purple-blue to blue-black
One of the many reasons why our family purchases so many blueberries is their longevity. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries should be eaten within a few days, but blueberries can stay in the refrigerator (if you can manage to avoid eating them) for up to 10 days. The key is keeping them cold and dry (any moisture will promote the growth of mold). I keep my blueberries in their original container and wash them just before consuming them or using them in a recipe.
If you’re looking for a unique spin on the traditional lemon bar, here is my recipe for Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars!
- 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
- 3 T brown sugar
- 6 T melted butter
- 2 8- ounce packages of cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 lemons zested and juiced
- 1/4 + 2 T sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup blueberries
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
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Prepare a 9"x9" square baking dish with butter or cooking spray and a sheet of parchment paper
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Combine graham crackers and brown sugar in a small bowl
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Add in melted butter and mix until crumbly
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Press into prepared pan
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Bake at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes or until golden brown
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Set aside to cool
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Combine cream cheese, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar and vanilla extract in the food processor until smooth
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Pour mixture onto cooled graham cracker crust
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Add blueberries
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Bake at 325 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until the center is set
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Cool completely and refrigerate
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Cut into 10 rectangular bars once set
Despite how decadent these cheesecake bars look and taste, they are very easy to make and don’t require a lot of time. The most important tip I can offer is to allow these bars to set completely before cutting them. If you like different types of berries you could use your favorite or mix and match them.
Looking for additional Berry recipes for your Summer get-togethers? Check out these inspired ideas from my fellow Walmart moms.
Strawberry Italian Cream Sodas
You can also find Summer recipes and Entertaining ideas on Walmart.com.
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