These creamy homemade cheesecake bars swirled with matcha brownie batter are what dreams are made of. Cheesecake is one of those desserts that never gets old. It’s rich, creamy, sweet with just a slight tangy taste. Classic cheesecake swirled with matcha brown batter makes for the ultimate indulgent treat. The best part? These matcha cheesecake bars are an easy grab-and-go dessert and perfect for parties!
Cheesecake vs cheesecake bars
While cheesecake is a very impressive dessert, it can be a total pain to bake. Cheesecake needs to be baked at just the right temperature and with the right humidity, or it can crack or sink. Making cheesecake can also be a bit of a time investment. Rather than traditional cheesecake, bars are faster to prep, bake and chill. Meaning you’ll be enjoying your delicious treat sooner rather than later. Cheesecake bars also make for the perfect dessert to bring to a party, potluck, or event.
To make cheesecake bars instead of a classic cheesecake, you’ll use a square 8x8 baking dish rather than a round springform pan. Once baked and cooled, simply cut into bars and serve. No need for a water bath or propping the oven to let cool slowly. This recipe is a great intro for anyone who may feel a bit intimidated by classic cheesecake recipes!
What type of matcha to use
Not all matcha grades are created equal, and it’s important to use the right type of matcha for what you want. For example, when making a traditional cup of matcha, it’s best to use a ceremonial grade matcha tea powder. This allows the flavor of the tea to really shine. Higher-grade matcha powders also have the most concentrated amounts of L-theanine and antioxidants. For cooking and baking, however, it’s best to use a culinary-grade matcha powder. Slightly older tea leaves are used when producing culinary-grade matcha, which gives the powder a slightly stronger, bitter flavor. This is ideal when it comes to baking because it allows the matcha powder to pull through.
Learn more about the different grades of matcha tea powder.
Keep reading to find out how to make these delectable matcha cheesecake bars.
Ingredients:
Brownie Batter:
1 1/2 tbsp matcha powder
½ cup (100 g) unsalted butter
2/3 cups (110 g) white chocolate
2 eggs
½ cup + 1 tbsp (80 g) white sugar
¼ cup 50 g brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
¾ cup (100 g) plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
Cheesecake Batter:
1 brick (250 g) cream cheese
¼ cup (50 g) white sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease or line an 8x8 pan.
2. Melt butter and white chocolate in a bowl. Set aside to cool.
3. Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla together, then add the chocolate mixture. Mix well.
4. Sift in the dry ingredients and gently fold to combine using a spatula.
5. In a separate mixing bowl, mix room-temperature cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla.
6. Pour half of the brownie batter into an 8x8” greased or lined pan.
7. Pour in the cheesecake batter, smoothing it out.
8. Add the remaining brownie batter on top, dolloping it.
9. Swirl the batter using a bamboo skewer or the tip of a knife.
10. Bake for 30 minutes at 325 F.
11. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. Once ready, cut into bars.
Serve, and enjoy!
These cheesecake matcha brownie bars are the perfect no-fuss dessert. They’re easy and make for an absolutely stunning dessert. Bring them to your next party or event… or make them just for yourself! Creamy, tangy, and with the perfect umami flavor, these matcha cheesecake bars are just about perfect for any occasion.
