Swirls of colors make these Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars a fun dessert to share at holiday BBQ's. This super simple red, white, and blue dessert is sure to brighten your Memorial Day and 4th of July picnics. So, let's get this party started.
Add a batch of these 4th of July Cookies and your picnics will be perfect.
Cheesecake Bars
One of our favorite desserts is this Rainbow Cheesecake. I love that it is so easy to make and to customize for any party. You can change the swirls of color match any party theme.
All the stores have red, white, and blue decorations out right now for Memorial Day and 4th of July, so I picked a few things up for our summer picnics. One of my favorite things to do for holidays is to make a dessert that is fun and colorful, so I grabbed some star sprinkles too.
Cheesecake bars are a great way to add some color and fun to any party. I was looking through the 4th of July treats I have made over the years, and there was nothing red, white, and blue in the cheesecake section, so I had to make a red white and blue dessert right away.
What You'll Need
The swirls in this 4th of July cheesecake are easy to do, and they make this red white and blue dessert the perfect holiday treat for picnics or parties.
Tools:
- Food Processor - to crush the cookies
- 9x13 pan - line with foil for easy removal
Oreo Cookie Crust:
- Oreo cookies - leave the filling in the cookies
- Butter - unsalted and melted
Vanilla Cheesecake:
- Cream Cheese - set out ahead of time to soften
- Sugar - granulated sugar sweetens and smooths the filling
- Vanilla Extract - adds flavor
- Sour Cream - gives the bars a slight tang
- Flour - adds a little structure so the cheesecake bars do not crack
- Eggs - gives the cheesecake a smooth and rich texture
- Gel Food Coloring - red and blue for patriotic desserts
How to make Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars:
The longest part of making cheesecake bars is the wait time after. Cheesecake has to chill for 4-6 hours, so that it has time to set up before you cut into it.
I suggest making this patriotic cheesecake the night before, so it can chill overnight.
- Set the cream cheese out at least 30 minutes ahead of time. It's much easier to beat it into the sugar if it is softened first.
- Crush the cookies and mix with melted butter. Press the mixture evenly into a pan.
- Bake and cool the crust.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the flour, vanilla, and sour cream and beat again.
- Add the eggs and mix until just mixed in. Do not over beat once the eggs are added.
- Divide the cheesecake batter evenly into three bowls. Tint two of the bowls red and blue. Gel food colors will give you more vibrant colors.
- Drop the batter by spoonfuls over the top of the cooled cookie crust in a grid pattern
- Use a butter knife and gently drag it through the colors. Go up and down and then back and forth. Make sure you do not pull the knife through the crust!
- Bake over a steam bath.
- Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I customize the colors of the cheesecake bars?
You sure can. Choose any colors that you like and tint the cheesecake batter with those choices.
How do you prevent cheesecake from cracking?
- Set out your ingredients ahead of time, so they come to room temperature.
- Do not over beat the cheesecake batter. Beating too much and too long will add air bubbles to the batter which will result in cracks in the cheesecake as it bakes.
- Bake cheesecake with a steam bath. My favorite way to bake cheesecake is with a pan of water on the bottom rack of the oven. The pan of cheesecake goes on the oven rack right above it.
- Do not over bake the cheesecake. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little jiggly like Jello when you pull it out. It will set up as it cools. If the whole dessert moves, go ahead and continue to bake it a little bit longer.
- Loosen the cheesecake from the edges of the pan about 5 minutes after you pull it out of the oven. As cheesecake cools, it will shrink and pull on the sides of the pan. If it is still attached, it will cause cracks in the center.
What should I do if my cheesecake cracks?
Cover it with a fun topping like pie filling, chocolate ganache, or this Whipped Cream recipe, and no one will ever know.
How do you cut cheesecake bars cleanly?
The best way to cut slices of cheesecake cleanly is to use a hot knife for each cut. Dip the knife in hot water and wipe with a clean towel before making each cut.
Can you freeze cheesecake?
You certainly can. Cheesecake will keep for1-2 months in the freezer. Cheesecake can be frozen whole or cut up into slices. If you are making it ahead of time for a party, wrap and freeze it whole. If you have leftovers, freeze individual squares for future snacking enjoyment. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
How to Freeze Cheesecake
- After baking, let the cheesecake cool for 1-2 hours on the counter, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
- If you are freezing the cheesecake whole, place it on a board or pan and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil. If you are freezing individual slices or squares, wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and then again in foil.
- Place in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at least a few hours before serving. Once thawed, add Homemade Whipped Cream and sprinkle decorations.
Other Red White and Blue Desserts:
- Firecracker Cupcakes
- 4th of July Donuts
- 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- White Chocolate Parfait recipe
- Red White and Blue Swirl Bundt Cake
- 4th of July Marshmallow Pops
- Fruit Parfait
- Homemade Fruit Dip
- Cherry Filled Cupcakes
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
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Recipe
Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Swirls of colors make these Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars a fun dessert to share at holiday BBW's. This super simple red, white, and blue dessert is sure to brighten your Memorial Day and 4th of July picnics.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 30 Oreo cookies
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake
- 3 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- red & blue gel food colors
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with foil.
- Place the cookies (cream included) in a food processor. Pulse until the cookies become crumbs.
- Stir in the butter until mixed in. Press the mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove and cool.
- Place a large baking sheet on the bottom rack of the oven. Fill it halfway with water. Let the oven preheat again.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the sour cream, vanilla, and flour and beat again.
- Add the eggs and beat gently just until they are mixed in.
- Divide the batter evenly into 3 bowls. Use the food coloring to tint two of the bowls red and blue.
- Spoon the mixture evenly over the crust, alternating the colors. Drag a butter knife through the batter going up and down and back and forth until you get a good swirl pattern. Do not over mix.
- Place the pan on the oven rack above the pan of water. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Remove from the oven immediately and place on a wire rack.
- Let the cheesecake cool on the counter for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
- Cut into squares and serve with whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 155mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bars was first published May 25, 2017. The post was updated and republished May 26, 2021
Mary
I have done this recipe twice how do I get the red to not look pink?
Jocelyn
I use the Wilton gel colors because they are super concentrated and you can get a pretty deep color without using a lot. They have one called "no taste red" so you don't get a strange flavor if you do use a lot of it. Most reds will bake up pink if you do not use enough.
Melissa
I think I messed up, how important is the sour cream, I had it sitting on the counter next to my work area and still managed to not add it, did not realize that I left it out until I had already separated it out and colored it and was putting the batters into my pan,should I start over
Jocelyn
I hope you were able to get this baked. If you bake it without the sour cream, it will work. The bars will just be a little thicker and less creamy.
Leah
If I use a 9x13 aluminum pan for the cheesecake, do I still have to cover the bottom in foil when baking?
Jocelyn
No, the only time I use foil or parchment paper is if I want to lift the bars out easily before cutting. I hope you enjoy the cheesecake!
Tosh
When you say cook it over a steam bath, I seen where you said to put the water on the bottom rack and the cheesecake on the top. But do I need to boil water and then place in my oven and close? Or do I just put it in the oven and set the oven to a certain temp so the water boils? Lol. Sorry!! Never seen this before
Jocelyn
Yes, just place a large sheet pan on the very bottom oven rack and fill it with water. You don't need to boil it, as the oven will heat it up as it preheats. I usually use hot tap water, so it heats a little faster and starts to steam a little. Make sure you keep your face back when you go to put the pan of cheesecake on the rack right above. You will get a good facial if you are too close. I hope that makes sense and you enjoy the bars!