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Lemon White Chocolate Cheesecake

Rich, creamy white chocolate cheesecake with lemon juice and lemon zest for a truly indulgent cheesecake.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
YIELD 8 *8-inch pan (16 bars)

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 cup (100g) vanilla wafer crumbs (pulse in a food processor or blender until finely ground, then measure)
  • 3 tablespoons (40g) unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

  • ⅔ cup (120g) white chocolate chips or chunks
  • ¼ cup (60 ml)heavy whipping cream
  • 2 ½ cups (450g) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • White chocolate chips for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides for lifting the cheesecake out after baking.

  2. In a medium bowl, stir the crumbs and melted butter together. Put mixture in the lined pan and gently press with your fingers until crumbs form an even layer. Bake for 8 minutes. Allow to cool while you prepare the filling.

  3. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F/150°C.

  4. In a medium heat-proof bowl, combine the white chocolate and heavy whipping cream. Melt in the microwave in 20 second-intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted. Alternatively, set the mixture over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add sugar and beat for another 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add eggs, one at a time, until fully combined. Add vanilla, lemon zest and juice and beat until incorporated and smooth. Stir in the chocolate mixture and mix until combined.
  6. Pour batter over the cooled crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle with chocolate chips if desired. Bake for about 45 minutes. The center of the cake should be slightly wobbly when it’s taken out of the oven. Allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 4 hours (or, preferably, overnight) until completely set. Lift the cake out of the pan using the parchment paper and cut into squares.

Recipe Notes

Cheesecake bars taste best after 24-hours of refrigeration.
You can double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13-inch pan for 50-60 minutes. Store cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.