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Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

If you love cheesecake and berries, but you're not keen on baking a cheesecake from scratch, I've got a terrific alternative for you. These bars have a luscious strawberry crust and a rich layer of cheesecake baked on top. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Is it Hard to Make Cheesecake?

I've got a great recipe for cheesecake and I was surprised that it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be.

That said, not everyone has the time (or the springform pan) to pull off a cheesecake.

If you're in a hurry but you want the rich sweet flavors of a strawberry cheesecake, these bars are the perfect alternative.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars are Easy to Make

The bottom is a cookie-like layer of strawberry (which starts with a box of cake mix).

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

The center is a rich cheese and sweetened condensed milk with a hint of lemon.

The top is a layer of strawberry pie filling.

I guess I'm getting ahead of myself, so let's take a little pause and look at the ingredients.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars Ingredients

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com
  • strawberry cake mix
  • large egg
  • melted butter
  • room temperature cream cheese
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • lemon juice
  • strawberry pie filling

How to Make these Amazing Strawberry Squares

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare your 9x13-inch dish by spraying with nonstick spray. Place a piece of parchment paper inside cross-wise. Spray it lightly with nonstick spray and set aside.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

(Optional) Puree the strawberry pie filling to break down the large berries.

Make Your Crust

Combine the strawberry cake mix, butter, and egg in the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. If you don't have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl with electric mixer.

Mix on low speed until fully combined. You'll end up with something about the consistency of cookie dough.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Press dough into the bottom of the dish and place in preheated oven.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Bake for ten minutes.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Make Your Filling

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Add lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Mix well. Pour over partially baked strawberry base. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Now it's time to spoon on the strawberry puree. Do your best to cover the cream cheese filling as best you can.

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Bake for 30 minutes. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool for one hour. 

Place in refrigerator and continue to chill for an hour. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Slice into squares and serve. 

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Serve and enjoy!

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Store leftovers in refrigerator in an airtight container (or covered in plastic wrap). They should stay fresh 4-5 days. I don't recommend freezing these bars.

What to Expect from These Bars

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

Y'all, I have to admit. . .these are beyond delicious! Sometimes when I make up recipes I'm not sure how they will turn out. But in this case, the outcome was heavenly.

The luscious strawberry crust, with its crunchy bottom. . .

Amazing Strawberry Cheesecake Bars from Out of the Box Baking.com

The creamy filling, similar to a real cheesecake.

And can we just talk about that strawberry topping? It's so yummy, the perfect complement to the other ingredients.

Variations on this Recipe

There are so many ways you could change up this recipe with a different flavor of cake mix and pie filling. Here are a few options:

Lemon cake mix with blueberry or blackberry filling. I've already baked this recipe and it's divine!

Chocolate cake mix with cherry pie filling. (Yum!)

Lemon cake mix with lemon pie filling.

Golden butter cake mix with caramel apple pie filling. (Delicious!)

Other Strawberry Favorites from Out of the Box Baking


That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. 

Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog. 

For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List. 

See this recipe at

Full Plate Thursday 

Weekend Potluck

The Lazy Gastronome

Busy Monday

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.

Amazing Strawberry Cheese Bars

Amazing Strawberry Cheese Bars

Yield: 24
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

If you love cheesecake and berries, but you're not keen on baking a cheesecake from scratch, I've got a terrific alternative for you. These bars have a luscious strawberry crust and a rich layer of cheesecake baked on top. Best of all, they start with a box of cake mix.

Ingredients

  • 1 box strawberry cake mix
  • 1 egg
  • 1 stick (½ cup) melted butter
  • 2 blocks room temperature cream cheese
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • Lemon juice

Instructions

    Make Your Crust
    Combine the strawberry cake mix, butter, and egg in the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. If you don't have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl with electric mixer.
    Mix on low speed until fully combined. You'll end up with something about the consistency of cookie dough.
    Press dough into baking dish.
    Bake for 10 minutes at 350.

    Make Your Filling
    Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
    Add lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk.
    Pour over partially baked strawberry base.
    Now it's time to spoon on the strawberry puree. Do your best to cover the cream cheese filling as best you can.
    Bake for 30 minutes.
    Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool for one hour.
    Place in refrigerator and continue to chill for an hour.
    Slice into squares and serve.
    Store in refrigerator in airtight container or covered in plastic wrap.
    Bars can be frozen up to two months.

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