No Bake Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars made with fresh lemon juice, a delicious blueberry jam, and the best shortbread cookie crust. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dates, these bars are a healthier version of your favorite treat. This recipe is vegan, dairy-free, gluten free, and Paleo.

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No Bake Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Lemon and blueberry, is there a better combination? The tartness of lemon, the sweetness of perfectly ripened fresh blueberries…so, so good!  These no-bake lemon blueberry cheesecake bars have the perfect blend of tart, sweet, and refreshing. The best part? There is no baking involved.

A creamy, dairy-free, cheesecake filling is swirled with a homemade blueberry jam for the perfect easy and delicious treat. Not only are these bars delicious, they are vegan, sweetened with unrefined sugar, and Paleo-friendly. They make a wonderful and healthier dessert that everyone will love!

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bar Ingredients

Soaked Cashews: Cashews soak overnight so they create a smooth and creamy texture.

Full Fat Coconut Milk: Canned full fat coconut milk helps to give the filling just the right amount of creaminess.

Lemon Juice: All good cheesecake has lemon juice! I include a suggested amount in the full recipe below, but feel free to add more.

Blueberry Jam: These bars are swirled with a delicious blueberry jam that is slightly tart with just amount of sweet.

Maple Syrup: These bars are naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. Feel free to use more

Vanilla Extract: An obvious addition that adds just the right amount of maple flavor.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil helps to solidify the bars once cooled.

(be sure to scroll down for the full recipe ingredients and instructions)

Step One: The first step is to soak the cashews in water overnight. Soaking the cashews helps to soften them and create a creamy “cheesecake” filling.

Step Two:  Next, make the blueberry jam to swirl in the cheesecake filling. Combine the blueberries, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract over medium-high heat. Use a wooden spoon or potato masher to mash the blueberries and break them down. Bring the blueberry mixture to a boil and then lower the heat and let simmer for 10-12 minutes while constantly stirring.

When the blueberries have all burst and the jam has turned a dark purple color, whisk the lemon juice and arrowroot starch in a small bowl to make a slurry. Next, turn off the heat and pour the slurry mixture into the blueberries. Stir until the blueberries have thickened into a jam like consistency.

Step Three: While the blueberry jam is cooking, make the shortbread cookie crust.  To do this, add the crust ingredients to a food processor and pulse until a sticky dough forms. Then, use your fingers to press the shortbread dough into an 8×8 baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper. Next, place the crust in the fridge or freezer while you prepare the cheesecake filling.

Step Four:  To make the dairy-free cheesecake filling, add the soaked cashews, lemon juice, maple syrup, coconut oil, coconut milk, and vanilla extract to a food process or high powered blender. Blend the cheesecake filling until silky smooth and creamy. You want to make sure that there are no lumps or bits of cashew pieces remaining.

Next, pour the filling into a large mixing bowl and add the cooled blueberry jam. Gently fold in the blueberry jam. Next, give the filling a taste and adjust it based on your tastebuds. You can add more lemon juice if you like your cheesecake to be more tart or add more maple syrup to make the cheesecake bars sweeter.

Step Five: Once the filling meets your taste preference, pour the cheesecake filling over the prepared shortbread cookie crust crust.

Step Six: Freeze the cheesecake bars overnight or until completely solid. When you are ready to serve the bars, remove the cheesecake from the freezer and let sit out on the counter for around five minutes to slightly soften. Then, use a sharp knife to slice the bars into 9 or 16 pieces.

These no bake lemon blueberry cheesecake bars are incredibly easy to make but a few helpful hints never hurt. Here are a few  tips and tricks to make sure that your cheesecake bars are perfect every single time:

• Be sure to remove the pits from your dates before adding them to the food processor to make the crust.
• Don’t over process the crust. It should be sticky, similar to a cookie dough, but not smooth like a nut butter.
• To get that nice blueberry swirl in the cheesecake, do not over mix the filling. Instead, gently fold in the blueberry jam so you have swirls of blueberry and cheesecake.
• Let the bars freeze until they are completely solid before slicing. It will be tempting to dive in right away but freezing the bars until completely firm makes them much easier to slice.
• These bars are designed to be eaten frozen. If you let them sit out for too long they will melt.

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