These Mediterranean Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars have a rich and silky texture. We prepare these cheesecake bars with whole-wheat graham cracker crumbs, almond flour, extra-virgin olive oil, honey, reduced-fat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice, dark chocolate chips, and sweet cherries. These cheesecake bars contain approximately 245 calories and 21 grams of net carbs. These Mediterranean Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars are ideal for family gatherings, holiday celebrations, afternoon coffee breaks, potlucks, dessert tables, and weekend entertaining. We can refrigerate these cheesecake bars for more than five days and freeze them for longer than 2 months, so you can prepare them earlier. You can serve these Mediterranean Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Bars with fresh berries, Greek coffee, espresso, fruit salad, honey-roasted walnuts, or a creamy Greek yogurt parfait.
STATS:
- Course: Dessert, Snack, Sweet Treat
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Diet: Mediterranean, Vegetarian
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Portion Size: 1 bar
- Cooking Mode: Baking
- Total Servings: 12 bars
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Total Time: 55 minutes
TOOLS:
- Baking pan
- Bowls
- Electric hand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Baking paper
- Small saucepan
- Whisk
- Cooling rack
- Knife
INGREDIENTS:
CRUST:
- 1 cup whole-wheat graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
CHEESECAKE FILLING:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- â…“ cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
CHOCOLATE CHERRY TOPPING:
- 1 cup cherries
- â…“ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
INGREDIENT NOTES:
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS:
- We use whole-wheat graham cracker crumbs to create a sturdy and slightly sweet crust. As a substitute, you can use oat biscuit crumbs, digestive biscuits, or crushed whole-grain cookies.
ALMOND FLOUR:
- Almond flour delivers a light and nutty flavor and helps to boost the texture of the crust. You can replace it with oat flour, finely ground walnuts, or additional graham cracker crumbs.
OLIVE OIL:
- We use olive oil to provide moisture and Mediterranean nutritious fats to the crust. As an alternative, you may use avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
HONEY:
- Honey naturally sweetens the cheesecake bars and provides a subtle floral flavor. You can substitute it with maple syrup, date syrup, or agave nectar.
CREAM CHEESE:
- Cream cheese gives the cheesecake filling a rich and silky texture. Instead, you can use Neufchâtel cheese or light cream cheese.
GREEK YOGURT:
- Greek yogurt adds creaminess and a slight tangy flavor to the filling. As a replacement, you can use skyr, strained yogurt, or dairy-free Greek-style yogurt.
CHERRIES:
- We use cherries, as they provide natural sweetness and fruity flavor to the topping. Alternatively, you can use defrosted and strained frozen cherries.
DARK CHOCOLATE:
- Dark chocolate creates a rich chocolate flavor and works perfectly with the cherries. You may substitute it with semi-sweet chocolate if preferred.
LEMON JUICE:
- Lemon juice boosts the flavor of the cheesecake filling and balances the sweetness. As an alternative, you can use fresh lime juice.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Warm the empty oven to 350°Fahrenheit and properly cover the sheet with baking paper.
- Stir the sea salt, graham cracker crumbs, honey, almond flour, and olive oil in a dish.
- Firmly blend the mixture in a pan and bake for almost ten minutes, and then gently cool it.
- Include the cream cheese in a big vessel and beat it till it gets smoother.
- Mix the lemon juice, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, honey, and egg till they are creamier.
- Equally spread the cheesecake filling on the crust.
- Bake till the middle is properly set, for almost twenty-two minutes, and them completely cool it.
- Whisk the water, cherries, and honey in a saucepan.
- Cook till they are softer, for about six minutes, to make a topping.
- Bring the topping out of the flame and mix in the vanilla extract and dark chocolate chips.
- Distribute the chocolate cherry mixture on the cooled layer of cheesecake.
- Chill it for almost three hours, and make twelve bars by cutting, and then serve them refrigerated.
TIPS:
- Use fresh cherries to get a perfect taste and texture.
- After including eggs, do not mix too much.
- Gently toast the almond flour for additional nuttiness.
- Refrigerate it for a night to cut clean slices.
- We utilize high-quality dark chocolate to deliver a perfect flavor.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
FRUITS:
- Cherries
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
MEDITERRANEAN SIDES:
- Greek Yogurt Parfait
- Honey-Roasted Walnuts
- Fresh Fig Slices
- Almond Granola Clusters
- Pistachio Mix
BEVERAGES:
- Espresso
- Greek Coffee
- Cappuccino
- Herbal Tea
- Iced Coffee
DESSERTS:
- Dark Chocolate Almond Bites
- Fruit Salad
- Coconut Energy Balls
- Lemon Yogurt Cups
- Baked Cinnamon Apples
TOPPINGS:
- Chocolate Shavings
- Crushed Pistachios
- Mint Leaves
- Lemon Zest
- Cherry Compote
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Put these bars in a tight box and stock them for not less than five days.
FREEZER:
- Tightly cover these bars separately and store them for longer than two months.
FAQs:
Could we prepare these bars earlier?
- Yes, you can make these bars two days earlier.
May we utilize frozen cherries?
- Yes, you can use frozen cherries, although defrost them and strain them before utilizing.
Will we prepare these bars without gluten?
- Yes, you can use non-gluten cookie crumbs or graham crackers.
Could I utilize maple syrup instead of honey?
- Yes, you can use maple syrup, as it also works perfectly.
NUTRITIONAL FACTS:
Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 245 kcal
Total Carbs: 24g
Net Carbs: 21g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 15g
Fat: 13g
Protein: 6g
Sodium: 145mg