A silky smooth custard filling baked inside a golden cookie crust. Creamy, rich, and perfect for slicing into neat squares for dessert or tea-time!
🥘 Recipe Card
Servings & Timing
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
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Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
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Cooling Time: 1 hour
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Total Time: ~2 hours
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Yield: 12 squares
Dietary Badges:
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Family-Friendly
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Crowd-Pleaser
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Easy Baking
✅ Ingredients (Quick View)
For the Crust:
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1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
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¼ cup sugar
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1 egg yolk
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Pinch of salt
For the Custard Filling:
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8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
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1 cup milk
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½ cup heavy cream
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½ cup sugar
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3 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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2 tbsp cornstarch (for stability)
📖 Instructions (Quick View)
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Make the crust: Mix flour, sugar, salt, butter, and yolk until dough forms. Press into a greased square pan, forming a ½-inch border up the sides. Chill 15 minutes.
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Pre-bake: Bake crust at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden.
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Prepare filling: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Whisk in milk, cream, vanilla, and cornstarch.
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Bake custard: Pour filling into crust. Bake 25–30 minutes until just set (center slightly wobbly).
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Cool & slice: Let cool 1 hour, then refrigerate. Slice into neat squares with a sharp knife.
🔑 Notes
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Don’t overbake — the custard should jiggle slightly when removed from the oven.
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Chill well before slicing for sharp edges like in the photo.
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Swap cream cheese for mascarpone for a silkier texture.
🌟 Introduction
This Custard Cheesecake Bar recipe is a perfect blend of two classics: the rich tang of cheesecake and the silky texture of baked custard. With a buttery cookie crust and creamy filling, it’s easy to prepare yet elegant enough to impress guests.
These bars slice beautifully into neat squares, making them ideal for parties, potlucks, or simple afternoon tea.
🥄 Step-by-Step Cooking Guide
1. Prepare the crust
Mix flour, sugar, salt, butter, and egg yolk. Press firmly into the bottom and slightly up the sides of a square baking pan. Chill, then pre-bake.
2. Make the filling
Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then whisk in cream, milk, vanilla, and cornstarch.
3. Bake gently
Pour custard over crust. Bake until just set but slightly wobbly in the center.
4. Cool & chill
Cool completely before refrigerating. Slice into squares and serve chilled.
🥬 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
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Flour Crust: Can swap with graham cracker or digestive biscuit crust.
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Sugar: Use powdered erythritol or monk fruit for a keto-friendly version.
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Cream Cheese: Mascarpone = creamier, ricotta = lighter.
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Flavor Variations: Add lemon zest, coconut extract, or a swirl of fruit jam before baking.
🍽 Variations & Serving Suggestions
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Lemon Custard Bars: Add zest + 2 tbsp lemon juice.
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Coconut Cream Bars: Replace half the milk with coconut milk.
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Marble Effect: Swirl in melted chocolate before baking.
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Serving Idea: Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with caramel sauce.
❄️ Storage & Make-Ahead
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Refrigerator: Store covered up to 4 days.
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Freezer: Freeze slices up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in fridge.
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Make-Ahead Tip: Bake the crust and filling a day before serving — bars cut more cleanly when fully chilled.
⚖️ Nutrition (per square, est. 12 servings)
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Calories: ~210
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Protein: 5g
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Carbs: 18g
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Fat: 13g
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make these without the crust?
A: Yes! Bake the custard filling in a parchment-lined pan for crustless cheesecake bars.
Q: Why did my custard crack?
A: It may have been overbaked. Remove when center still jiggles slightly.
Q: Can I use evaporated milk instead of cream?
A: Yes, but texture will be slightly lighter.
Q: Do these taste like cheesecake or flan?
A: A mix of both — cheesecake richness with custard smoothness.
💌 Final Notes
These Custard Cheesecake Bars are simple to make, creamy, and elegant — the perfect balance of rich and light. Whether you’re hosting or just craving something sweet, this recipe is guaranteed to impress.
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