A buttery digestive base, a wonderfully rich yogurt cheesecake filling and a topping of zingy, mouthwatering lemony freshness - you're going to love these lemon yogurt cheesecake bars!
Cheesecake is a big favourite of mine, and the addition of a thick set yogurt adds a touch of tang and dreamy creaminess. It's thick, creamy, delicious and gloriously silky smooth.
These lemon curd yogurt cheesecake bars would make the perfect dessert for a summer picnic.
Here's the full recipe, complete with step-by-step photos. And if you love zingy lemon flavour, be sure to check out my incredible lemon drizzle cake next!
Ingredients
For the base
- 250 g (18 sheets) digestive biscuits (graham crackers)
- 100 g (7 tbsp) slightly salted butter melted
For the cheesecake filling
- 70 g (6 tbsp) thick set yogurt
- 800 g (1.7 lb) full fat cream cheese
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100 g (¾ cup) icing sugar (powdered sugar)
For the lemon curd (or a store bought jar)
- 4 unwaxed lemons (or 2 large) rind and juice
- 200 g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 100 g (7 tbsp) slightly salted butter
- 3 medium free range eggs
- 1 medium free range egg yolks
Instructions
To make the base
Smash the digestive biscuits to a fine crumb and combine with the melted butter. Tip them into your square, 25cm (10 inch) square loose-bottomed straight-sided tin.
Press down firmly to create an even base, then place in the fridge to chill.
To make the filling
In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, yogurt and vanilla.
Whisk until thick.
Add the sugar and whisk again.
Tip the filling into the tin.
Level off and return the tin to the fridge.
To make the lemon curd
(If you’re using a jar of curd, skip to 'To bring together')
Place the lemon juice, lemon rind, butter and sugar into a bowl.
Heat gently over a pan of simmering water until the butter has melted.
Add the room temperature eggs and whisk until fully combined.
Continue to heat over the pan, stirring occasionally until it has thickened enough to leave a trail if you run your finger over the back of the spoon.
Leave to cool completely. It will thicken further.
To bring together
Spoon the curd into the tin.
Level off and return to the fridge to firm up overnight.
Cut into bars to serve.
Is cheesecake one of your favourite desserts? Which flavours are your favourite?
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Lemon Curd Yogurt Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Ingredients
For the base
- 250 g (18 sheets) digestive biscuits (graham crackers)
- 100 g (7 tbsp) slightly salted butter melted
For the cheesecake filling
- 70 g (6 tbsp) thick set yogurt
- 800 g (1.7 lb) full fat cream cheese
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100 g (¾ cup) icing sugar (powdered sugar)
For the lemon curd (or a store bought jar)
- 4 unwaxed lemons (or 2 large) rind and juice
- 200 g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 100 g (7 tbsp) slightly salted butter
- 3 medium free range eggs
- 1 medium free range egg yolks
Instructions
To make the base
- Smash the digestive biscuits to a fine crumb.
- Tip them into your square, loose-bottomed, 25cm/10 inch straight-sided tin.
- Add the melted butter and mix until combined.
- Press down firmly to create an even base, then place in the fridge to chill.
To make the filling
- In a bowl, whisk the cream cheese, yogurt and vanilla until thick.
- Add the sugar and whisk again.
- Tip the filling into the tin. Level off and return the tin to the fridge.
To make the lemon curd (If you’re using a jar of curd, skip to 'To bring together')
- Place the lemon juice, lemon rind, butter and sugar into a bowl and heat gently over a pan of simmering water until the butter has melted.
- Add the room temperature eggs and whisk until fully combined.
- Continue to heat over the pan, stirring occasionally until it has thickened enough to leave a trail if you run your finger over the back of the spoon.
- Leave to cool completely. It will thicken further.
To bring together
- Spoon the curd into the tin, level off and return to the fridge to firm up overnight.
- Cut into bars to serve.
Video
Nutrition
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More great cheesecake recipes to try
If you loved this lemon curd yogurt cheesecake bars recipe, why not take a look at my other cheesecake recipes for inspiration?
Here are some of my favourites.
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Claire says
Oh wow, this looks delicious Emily. I love cheesecake and your lemon curd yogurt ones sound amazing :) I could just eat one now.
Emily Leary says
Thank you Claire! I love cheesecake too and this dessert is really popular in our house, in fact they don't stay on the plate for very long!
Becca Talbot says
I don't think I've ever had a yoghurt bar like this before - but this sounds delicious! I'd love to give it a go, and the recipe looks pretty easy to follow too :( plus I love lemon curd, so that's a big tick from me! x
Emily Leary says
A first time for everything! This cheesecake bars are easy to make and taste wonderful!
Elizabeth O says
I love lemon curd so these look delicious! Your posts make me so hungry lol. I will be saving this to give a go!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I hope that you love these delicious cheesecake bars as much as we do in our house!
Katy Stevens says
Your recipe sounds delicious and I love the step-by-step photos too. My Mum is a HUGE lemon curd fan so going to share this recipe with her now!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I'm really pleased that you like the step-by-step photos for making these delicious cheesecake bars! Let me know what you and your mum think of them!
Rachael says
Oh my, these look absolutely incredible and also so easy to make. I never knew lemon curd was that simple to make, I want to give it a go. We’re all huge lemon fiends here so sounds perfect for my lot.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! We all love lemons and cheesecake in our house too so these delicious lemon curd yogurt cheesecakes went down a treat! I hope you enjoy this recipe if you give it a go!
Daisy says
Wow these sound absolutely delicious and they look so beautiful! I need to make these for my kids to enjoy!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! They're as delicious as they look! Let me know what your kids think if you give them a try!
Luci says
This looks so delicious. It is perfect to make this right now because the season and changing and this will refresh you on a hot summers day. I know my family will love this as well, they are a big fan of lemon.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! We love yogurt,lemons and cheesecake in our house so this recipe ticks all the right boxes! Enjoy!
Jenny says
Oh that looks so good! I’ve never made one before but willing to give it a go!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I hope that you do decide to give these delicious cheesecake bars a go! They're not difficult to make and taste delicious!
Sim @ Sim's Life says
Oh that looks absolutely delicious, love any type of lemon dessert... and cheesecake! :) I need to look into a Keto version of this :) Sim x
Emily Leary says
Cool - let me know how you go!
Laura Dove says
Ooh nice!! I love lemon dessert of any kind of but these sound delicious! My children are big cheesecake fans too, we would really enjoy making these together!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! We love lemons, cheesecakes and yogurt in our house and this recipe is a delicious combination of all three! I hope that you and your children have fun making these!