These coconut lime cheesecake bars are creamy, tart and sweet, with a buttery graham cracker crust and toasted coconut on top. They are sure to make you feel like you're on a tropical island in the sun.
1½cups(170g)graham cracker crumbs (11 full sheets)
3tablespoonsgranulated sugar
½cup(45g)sweetened shredded coconut
1teaspoonlime zest
6tablespoonsbuttermelted
Cheesecake:
16ounces(453.59g)cream cheeseroom temperature
8ounces(226.8g)canned cream of coconutfound in the drink aisle
¼cup(57.5g)sour creamroom temperature
1tablespoonlime zest
2tablespoonslime juice
¼teaspoon(0.25teaspoon)salt
1teaspoonvanilla extract
½teaspoon(0.5teaspoon)coconut extract
2largeeggsroom temperature
¼cup(22.5g)sweetened shredded coconuttoasted
Instructions
Heat oven to 325 F. Spray and line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
In a food processor or blender, blend graham crackers until it's all crumbs. Mix in sugar, coconut, lime zest and pinch of salt, then add in the melted butter and mix until coated.
Press mixture evenly along the bottom of a 8x8 pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges. While the crust is baking prepare the filling.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the cream of coconut, sour cream, lime zest and juice, salt, vanilla and coconut extract and mix until smooth. Fold in the eggs being careful not to over mix.
When the crust is done baking, pour the filling over the warm crust. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 35-40 minutes, until the top has a golden rim around the edges, but the center jiggles slightly. Turn off the oven, crack the door and allow the cheesecake bars to sit in the oven and cool for a bit. This helps to keep the bars from cracking. Once they've cooled completely cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Toast your coconut in your frying pan with a teaspoon of butter over low/medium heat, stirring constantly. You want to remove it when it starts to turn golden brown. Allow it to cool, and then sprinkle over cheesecake bars before serving.
Notes
If you need to make this gluten free I would suggest using the Sweet Thins Honey Cinnamon cookies by Simple Mills to replace the graham crackers.Make sure your cream cheese, sour cream and eggs are room temperature to help the cheesecake have a smooth consistency.I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.