Desserts/Treats

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Seasonal Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars have thick layers and are easy to make.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars
Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

Easy Rhubarb Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Each summer, we have one rhubarb plant on our property, giving us at least 4 massive harvests.

The rhubarb was planted next to the downspout about 20 years ago and has been fruitful since.

Although we both love rhubarb, we can’t keep up with how much we get, so we give it away for free.

There’s never a shortage of someone we know who wants to take some rhubarb home.

Our one friend likes to dip the tart rhubarb in sugar and enjoys it as a treat.

I’m not a fan of it that way but I guess it’s a popular way to eat it raw.

Rhubarb Recipes

In the past, we’ve made recipes using the rhubarb growing in our back yard.

I remember when my mum and dad visited us from the UK, and our rhubarb was in season.

My mum couldn’t get over how much rhubarb we would harvest and how thick each stalk was.

There’s no joking around with our rhubarb plant, which means big business.

Picking Fresh Strawberries

Strawberry Jam

Each summer in Ontario we pack up and head to a strawberry patch to pick fresh strawberries.

We don’t get too much as we can’t eat them all up on time and don’t want too many stashed away in our freezer.

Our son enjoys strawberries, but he’ll only eat them fresh and does not like jams of any description.

The reason we take him strawberry picking is so that he understands where his food is coming from.

This will be his third season of strawberry picking in Ontario, and now he asks us when we can go.

We also plant strawberries in pots on our property, which he likes to take care of (he thinks he does, but I do it).

Every time he gets to pick a strawberry, you can see his little face light up.

These are the simple joys that some adults take for granted and why we’ve taken time to explore nature closely.

organic strawberry bush

How To Make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
How to make strawberry rhubarb cheesecake bars

Full recipe at the end of this post.

  • 3 cups of chopped rhubarb
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 cups of strawberries
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup of cold water
  1. In a medium-sized pot, add all of the strawberry rhubarb filling ingredients.
  2. On medium heat, cook the filling until it reduces, then blend it with a hand blender.
  3. You can also use a food processor or blender if you don’t have a hand blender.
  4. Set aside to cool.

Recipe For Strawbery Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

rhubarb cheesecake bars

It may seem like there are many layers to make these Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars. However, it’s very easy.

If you don’t have the time or don’t want to make a strawberry-rhubarb filling, you can use strawberry jam or any fruit puree.

Finding good rhubarb can be a struggle out-of-season, and you’ll pay for it dearly at the supermarket. 

When rhubarb is in season, you’ll find it for about $4.99lb at the market or grocery store.

We give our rhubarb away every season as we can’t keep up with the harvests it gives us.

Our rhubarb will give us 4 to 5 harvests throughout the summer, which means many happy friends.

When the strawberries are ready to be picked at local farms, we fill a few baskets and freeze them.

If you don’t have ready-to-pick strawberries in your area, then most likely, your grocery store will have them.

This time of year, you can find 2 lbs of strawberries for $5.99 at Costco if you have a membership or $1.99lb on sale.

The idea for this strawberry rhubarb jam or puree is to ensure that it cooks down so it’s thick and doesn’t rush.

By doing so, it allows you to evenly pour it over top of the cheesecake filling once everything has cooled.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars Filling

Cheesecake Bars

Printable Recipe Below

Cheesecake Crust

I made a basic butter crust for my strawberry rhubarb cheesecake bars; however, you can opt for an oatmeal base as with my extra-thick date squares.

Not everyone likes a shortbread-type crust but enjoy the crust of date squares.

Either way, you can’t go wrong if you have a crust since it’s essential.

Cheesecake Filling

I enjoy a nice thick filling when I eat cheesecake, so I add cream cheese.

For this recipe, I used two packages of cream cheese to make these strawberry rhubarb cheesecake bars.

Last minute, I added a bit of sour cream and a sour note to add fluff which worked perfectly.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars – Full Recipe

  • Recipe Type: Bars Recipe
  • Author: Mr.CBB
  • Prep time: 30 mins
  • Cook time: 40 mins
  • Total time: 1 hour 10 mins
  • Serves: 12

These seasonal Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars have a few layers but are very easy to make and delicious. These bars would compliment any spring or summer dessert table.

Ingredients

  • Cheesecake Crust
  • ½ cup softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Filling
  • 3 cups of chopped rhubarb
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 cups of strawberries
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup of cold water
  • Cheesecake Filling
  • 16 ounces softened cream cheese or 2 packages
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • Oatmeal Topping
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 1/4 cups of quick-cooking oats
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cold cubed butter

Instructions

  1. How to make the crust
  2. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  3. Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper
  4. Add the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixer, then mix until fluffy.
  5. Add the dry ingredients, flour, and salt to the butter mixture, then combine.
  6. Press the crust dough into the bottom of your 8×8 parchment-lined baking pan.
  7. Use a spatula to ensure the crust is even so it bakes evenly.
  8. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  9. Remove from the oven and let it cool while you prepare the filling.
  10. How to make the strawberry-rhubarb filling
  11. In a medium-sized pot, add all of the strawberry rhubarb filling ingredients.
  12. On medium heat, cook the filling until it reduces, then blend it with a hand blender.
  13. You can also use a food processor or blender if you don’t have a hand blender.
  14. Set aside to cool.
  15. How To Make The Cream Cheese Filling
  16. In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, add cream cheese and mix until fluffy
  17. One by one, add your eggs and then granulated sugar.
  18. Mix the vanilla extract and sour cream at the end by hand.
  19. How to make the oatmeal topping
  20. Ensure you are working with cold butter.
  21. Add all the ingredients into a bowl and combine enough until the oats are pea-sized.
  22. Sprinkle the oat mixture around the top of your cheesecake bars.
  23. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes
  24. Cool and then cut into squares.

If you want to get fancy with these strawberry rhubarb cheesecake bars, once cooled, you can add whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top.

Yield: 12

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars

Seasonal Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars have thick layers and are very easy to make.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • Cheesecake Crust
  • ½ cup softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Filling
  • 3 cups of chopped rhubarb
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 cups of strawberries
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup of cold water
  • Cheesecake Filling
  • 16 ounces softened cream cheese or 2 packages
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • Oatmeal Topping
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 1/4 cups of quick-cooking oats
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cold cubed butter

Instructions

How to make the crust

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper
  3. Add the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixer, then mix until fluffy.
  4. Add the dry ingredients, flour, and salt to the butter mixture, then combine.
  5. Press the crust dough into the bottom of your 8×8 parchment-lined baking pan.
  6. Use a spatula to ensure the crust is even so it bakes evenly.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Remove from the oven and let it cool while you prepare the filling.

Strawberry-rhubarb filling

  1. In a medium-sized pot, add all of the strawberry rhubarb filling ingredients.
  2. On medium heat, cook the filling until it reduces, then blend it with a hand blender.
  3. You can also use a food processor or blender if you don’t have a hand blender.
  4. Set aside to cool

Cream Cheese Filling

  1. In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, add cream cheese, and mix until fluffy
  2. One by one, add your eggs and then granulated sugar.
  3. Mix the vanilla extract and sour cream at the end by hand.

Oatmeal topping

  1. Ensure you are working with cold butter.
  2. Add all the ingredients into a bowl and combine enough until the oats are pea-sized.
  3. Sprinkle the oat mixture around the top of your cheesecake bars.
  4. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes
  5. Cool and then cut into squares.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe?

Discussion: What are some of your favourite rhubarb recipes?

Share your comments below.

Mr. CBB

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