Description
Nothing says summer celebrations like a bright, festive dessert that brings everyone together. These Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars are creamy, colorful, and downright addictive — the perfect patriotic treat to wow your guests without breaking a sweat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 30 Oreo cookies (with filling)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
- 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- Gel food coloring: red and blue (gel preferred for vibrant, natural-looking colors)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Pulse the Oreos in your food processor until finely crushed — no big chunks!
- Mix the crushed Oreos with melted butter until evenly coated.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of your foil-lined 9×13 inch pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes to set the crust, then remove from oven.
- Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy.
- Mix in vanilla extract, sour cream, and flour until combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing gently until just combined.
- Divide the batter evenly into three bowls.
- Tint one bowl red and another blue using gel food coloring; leave the third plain (white).
- Drop spoonfuls of each color in a grid pattern over the crust.
- Using a butter knife, gently swirl the batter without overmixing to create the classic patriotic marbled look.
- Place the cheesecake pan inside a large roasting pan.
- Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan.
- Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly.
- Remove from oven, loosen edges with a knife, and cool on the counter for 1 hour.
- Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for at least 4–6 hours or overnight for best texture.
- Lift cheesecake out using foil edges.
- Use a knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between cuts to slice into about 24 bars.
Notes
For vibrant colors, gel food coloring is your best friend. Bake these bars in a steam bath to keep them moist and crack-free. If cracks appear, cover with whipped cream or sprinkles to keep things festive. Perfect for freezing and prepping ahead for your celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking with steam bath
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: 4th of July dessert, cheesecake bars, patriotic dessert, red white and blue, summer dessert