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An old fashioned recipe that my family enjoys every Christmas! Easy Merry Cherry Cheesecake Bars are an easy dessert to celebrate the holidays.

I’ve been making more nostalgic recipes this holiday season. From the Christmas wreaths and candy canes that remind me of my grandma, to this new recipe today that I remember my mom making every year.

Merry Cherry Cheesecake Bars! Isn’t that a name that just makes you smile? I’ve made these in the past and enjoyed them every Christmas my mom makes them, and I know you’ll enjoy them too!

stack of christmas cheesecake bars on a plate

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Quick recipe that is easy to mix up and has minimal ingredients.
Red and green cherries are festive for the holidays.
An easy way to satisfy that cheesecake craving.
Buttery crumble for the crust and the topping.

If you like cranberries, try these cranberry cream cheese bars!

What are candied cherries?

Candied cherries are NOT the same as maraschino cherries. Maraschino cherries are packed in water or juice and come in a jar. Candied cherries are packed in a sugar glaze and are “drier” and sticker than marashino cherries.

We find candied cherries in the grocery store during the holidays. They are usually in the baking aisle or in the produce section by the nuts. You can also buy candied cherries on Amazon.

How to Make Merry Cherry Cheesecake Bars

Make the crust:

Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. Spray an 8×8 baking pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, place the butter, brown sugar and flour. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour/sugar mixture until it becomes coarse crumbs.

buttery crumb mixture for cheesecake bars

Set aside ½ cup of the crumb mixture for topping the bars.
Press the remaining crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is very slightly browned.

Make the filling:

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese, sugar, egg and lemon juice until creamy and smooth.
Fold in the chopped cherries.

Spread the batter over the baked crust.
Sprinkle with the reserved crumb topping.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheesecake is set.
Allow the bars to cool to room temperature then let set in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Refrigerate until serving.

How to Store Cheesecake Bars

Cheesecake bars need to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store in the fridge up to 1 week. You can also freeze for up to 2 months.

This is a great make ahead dessert for the holidays.

Recipe Variations:

Use low fat cream cheese to lower the calories.
Use just red cherries for Valentine’s Day.
Add ½ cup of mini chocolate chips to the batter if you like chocolate covered cherries.
Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the crust mixture for a little spice.
Double the recipe for a 9×13 baking pan. They may take slightly longer to bake since they will be thicker.