Dessert: Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Recipe by Joanna Saltz Lemon bars can only stand to get better with the addition of cheesecake. But then again, doesn't everything?

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 c. powdered sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tsp. salt
2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
3 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. lemon zest
1 c. lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Make crust: In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, butter, and salt, until it's just combined. (It should feel like wet sand.) Line the bottom of a 9x13 pan with parchment paper, and press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes until golden, and allow to cool slightly.
Make the lemon cheesecake: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs and yolks, and beat until well mix, another minute. Add in the condensed milk, vanilla, and lemon zest, and beat for another 2 minutes. Turn down mixer, and add in the lemon juice and beat until just combined. Pour batter over the crust, and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the center is set, but the edges are starting to turn golden.
Remove from oven, and let cool completely. Then put the bars in the refrigerator to set for at least 3 hours. Slice into bars.