You know what’s insanely good? Cheesecake. I love cheesecake. I love s’mores cheesecake with toasted marshmallow, chocolate cheesecake, + even the occasional cheesecake martini. NOM. The only thing i don’t like about cheesecake? That it ain’t exactly health food. So, when i was recently jonesing for cheesecake, but wanted a lighter/healthier version, I got searching. I soon stumbled across these fabulous-looking low-fat + lower-calorie cheesecake bars + couldn’t wait to try them!
So, how do they taste? Delicious! The lightened-up, lower-fat ingredients make these wonderfully light + airy. The greek yogurt adds a bright tartness that works perfectly with the richer, creamy batter. I chose raspberry jam because I prefer slightly-tart berries, but if you prefer a sweeter bar, you can easily substitute strawberry jam, peach jam, or any type that suits your fancy. And the best part? At under 150 calories per bar, you can get your cheesecake fix without worrying that you’re ruining your healthy eating. And that’s always a good thing when swimsuit season is in full swing!
Low-Fat Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars
makes 9 bars, adapted from skinnytaste – gina’s skinny recipes
ingredients
non-stick cooking spray
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (the original recipe used light butter, but i used normal butter)
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 oz fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt
2 large egg whites
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/4 cup jam (the original recipe called for sugar-free strawberry jam, but i substituted regular raspberry preserves)directions
pre-heat the oven to 350°. lightly coat an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray.
in a small bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs + butter with a fork until evenly moistened. press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
gently beat cream cheese, sugar + vanilla extract until smooth using an electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment). gradually beat in Greek yogurt, egg whites, lemon juice, + flour. do not over beat. when smooth, pour evenly over graham cracker crust.
stir jam until smooth. drop evenly-spaced small spoonfuls over the surface of filling. using a knife, swirl jam gently through filling to create a marbled effect.
bake 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set. cool to room temperature. chill a few hours in the refrigerator.
nutritional information per serving, as provided by skinnytaste:
servings per recipe: 9 • size: 1 slice • old weight watchers points: 3 pts • ww points+: 4 pts
calories: 132.9 • fat: 5.6 g • carb: 15.1 g • fiber: 0.1 g • protein: 5.8 gprint this recipe
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{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
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These look so fabulous! Yum!
I stinken love cheesecake too! I use low fat cream cheese most of the time and everyone still raves about it, win win! These look awesome!
These look fabulous! I actually have only ever made healthy cheesecake — it’s how my mom always made it, and always tastes great!
this is the first time i’ve made a ‘healthy’ cheesecake, + i absolutely loved it! i actually liked it better than many traditional cheesecakes since it’s so much lighter. score one point for healthy cheesecake! =)
I love that these use greek yogurt, I bet it goes so well with the raspberry. Delicious!
I love the decorative design on top! So pretty.
oh i love cheesecake bars! this low fat version wouldn’t make me feel guilty when i reach out for my third helping. 😉
gorgeous swirls and choosing raspberry was an excellent idea.
I have always been a fan of cheesecake. This looks wonderful!
Yum! I really like cheesecake, but my husband LOVES it. I think I need to make this and just not tell him it’s low-fat! 😉
Woohoo! I’m all for non-guilty cheesecake. Considering it’s one of my faaavorite desserts. And your jam swirls are so pretty!
These are gorgeous–and even better than they are healthy! Love ’em!
So glad you posted these! You know how I love some low cal alternatives to the full fat versions. I drooled over these when you posted a pic yesterday and now I’m super thrilled they are figure friendly!
Sounds like a perfect bday gift for your friend, Vivek. #justsayin
I love cheesecake! I used to have an awesome lower fat recipe for cheesecake bars but I think last time I tried it, it wasn’t as amazing as I remembered. Just pinned this recipe – can’t wait to make it. Maybe it will become a new favorite
Yep, these just looking freakin’ phenomenal!
Oh my! Love cheesecake, love berries, and they are skinny?!!? Have to try this asap.
I love cheesecake too! Every time I go to The Cheesecake Factory I’m overwhelmed by their giant menu of all the cheesecake flavors imaginable. Raspberry and cheesecake is one of my favorites together, throw on a little chocolate syrup and it’s perfect! Love these.
ooh, these would be awesome with chocolate incorporated in some way. excellent idea!
The swirl on your bars is so pretty, I love it!! I’ve never tried to make cheesecake with Greek yogurt, but I’m definitely intrigued, especially since summer is here like you said!
Low-fat? Sold!! I’m in love with greek yogurt and I bet the combo of it’s tartness combined with sweet raspberries is scrumptious. Never in a million years will mine looks as pretty as yours, but I’ll be making these nonetheless
so making this one!
Yum, I love healthified cheesecake! And cheesecake martinis?? yes please!
i have the good fortune of living close enough to get to try some of your creations, and i’m actually typing this with sticky raspberry cheesecake fingers. if this dessert is as low-fat & cal as you say it is, it’s going in constant rotation. they are DELICIOUS. i love the tartness from the Greek yogurt, and the creamy texture sure tastes fattening. i’ve been counting calories & fat lately, so this is a perfect treat.
yay, i’m so thrilled you liked ’em, amanda! thank you for agreeing to be a taste-tester for me! =)
Yum! I love that these are lightened up! And I’m a huge cheesecake fanatic too. I need to get my hands on these fantastic bars, and that martini!
these are so fun amy. I love cheesecake, as does the rest of my family. And I love that they are low fat!
I love cheesecakes and this is amazing!
The question is how do I add strawberry and PB….strawberry jam and pb sandwiches with cream cheese were my FAVORITE as a kid! (Besides the classic, of course.)
ooh, you could definitely make a strawberry + peanut butter version. just replace the raspberry jam with strawberry jam, then either also dab/swirl some peanut butter into the top layer (like you do with the strawberry), or you could even make a peanut butter graham crust on the bottom layer to get the pb flavor. uh, yum!
I am not a huge fan of cheesecake, but I love all the pretty swirls! I always love lightened up desserts too!
This looks like such a beautiful dessert my friend, it is hard to imagine that it is not fattening like normal cheesecake 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Cheesecake at 150 calories per serving? You, woman, are a MIRACLE worker! I am also so very grateful for that cheesecake martini recipe. We’re celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday this weekend, and I was looking for a “girly” recipe to introduce her to martinis now that she’s finally old enough to join me. Yum, yum, yum. Can’t wait!
the cheesecake martinis are awesome! i really need to make them again one day soon so I can rephotograph ’em, as the pic is from my very very early blog days. happy 21st birthday to your daughter – hope she has a wonderful weekend!
love love love cheesecake. if i could live on a few desserts for the rest of my life, cheesecake would be at the top of the list!! and at 150 calories?! oh my gosh. i die.
This cheesecake looks super good and really pretty. I LOVE cheesecake!
omg! These look so amazing. cheesecake (low fat) + raspberry + in a bar form = Brilliant!
Such pretty marbling!
I think I’ve tried this recipe before but messed it up somehow. I’ll have to give it another shot, especially if you liked it.
I love the looks of these beauties! It might not be as healthy, but I would love a chocolate swirl going on in there too. I can’t wait to give them a try!
i think these would be awesome with a chocolate swirl in there! and chocolate is heart-healthy, right?, so it still would add some healthiness! =)
Perfect. Beautiful. Amazing.
So yummy! Love the addition of Greek yogurt, and the pretty raspberry swirl. That cheesecake martini sounds pretty fabulous too!
You’re telling me I can have my cheescake and not feel all that guilty? Oh you just made my day Amy. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Love these! I love when cheesecake is made healthier and doesn’t lose its flavor. I’m always all over that cheesecake martini…for reals.
Gorgeous and low fat? Total winner!
I want this in my face, so bad. Not to mention – I am digging the healthified version of it! Gorgeous!
I am so overdue for some cheesecake time – hope mine is as pretty as yours turned out!!
What I find great about these is they are nice thin bars instead of a thick slice of regular cheesecake. Oh the possibilities of the different flavors using other jams. Yum.
Amy! These cheesecake swirl bars look AMAZING. Raspberry is my favorite too. Sometimes I swirl cream cheese on my bagels and top with a few raspberries! So, you better believe I love this combination. AND the fact that they are healthy makes it like…1000% better. I’m definitely going to make these myself. And how beautiful is that first picture? Looks like a piece of art!
you are too kind, sally – thank you!!
Wow Amy! This is a great recipe!! I love it that you used greek yogurt instead! Definitely a calorie-saver!! Delicious!!!!
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