Elinor Klivans, the author of Fearless Baking and three other cookbooks, got her start as the "cheesecake specialist" at a restaurant in Camden, Maine. That meant coming up with new cheesecakes every week, with some hits (apple cheesecake) and a few misses (margarita cheesecake). Her creamy, tangy lemon cheesecake bars would definitely count as a success, plus they're portable enough to bring on a picnic. For the best results, slice the cheesecake bars with a warm knife, wiping off the blade between cuts. Plus: More Dessert Recipes and Tips
How to Make It
Preheat the oven to 325° and position a rack in the center. Butter a 9-inch-square nonstick baking pan. In a food processor, pulse the flour with the sugar, lemon zest and salt. Add the butter and pulse until a soft, crumbly dough forms. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and a scant 1/2 inch up the side of the pan. Bake the crust for 20 minutes, or until golden and firm.
In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water. In a medium sauce-pan, whisk the egg yolks with 3/4 cup of the sugar and the lemon juice. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and cook over moderate heat, whisking gently, until the sugar is dissolved and the lemon mixture is hot, about 4 minutes. Boil over moderately high heat for 1 minute, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thick and glossy. Strain the lemon mixture into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the lemon zest and let cool.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Beat in the flour until blended. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well between additions. Add the sour cream and the vanilla and beat until the batter is smooth. Pour the cream cheese batter over the crust and smooth the surface with a spatula. Dollop the lemon mixture on the cheesecake batter and carefully swirl it into the batter; take care not to cut into the crust.
Bake the cheesecake for about 40 minutes, or until golden around the edge and just set. Run the tip of a knife around the edge to loosen the cheesecake from the side of the pan. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate the cheesecake until thoroughly chilled. Cut into 16 bars and serve.
Notes
Use the back of a table knife to gently swirl together the lemon mixture and the cheesecake batter. Take care not to swirl too much—each mixture should remain distinct so you have a lovely white and yellow pattern on top.
Serve With
The cheesecake bars can be refrigerated in the pan for up to 3 days.