Description
Craving cheesecake but want something lighter? These coconut cheesecake bars deliver big flavor without the heaviness. They’re creamy, lightly sweet, and finished with a crunchy topping of toasted coconut and almonds—all while staying under 120 calories per slice. Dessert win? Absolutely.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- ¾ cup finely crushed graham crackers
- 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Cheesecake Filling
- 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese or Neufchâtel, softened
- ¾ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 2 egg whites
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 teaspoons coconut extract (adjust to taste)
Topping
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with foil, leaving extra hanging over the sides for easy removal later.
- Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter until evenly coated. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for about 8–9 minutes, then remove and set aside while you prepare the filling.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy, about one minute. Add the Greek yogurt, sugar, egg whites, and flour, then mix for another 2–3 minutes until fully blended and silky.
- Stir in the vanilla and coconut extracts. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the warm crust and spread evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then loosely cover the pan with foil and return it to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to finish setting the center.
- While the bars bake, place the almonds and shredded coconut in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Take the cheesecake bars out of the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the toasted almond-coconut mixture evenly over the top.
- Let the bars cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then transfer them to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 4 hours before slicing for clean, neat bars.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 118
- Sugar: 6 g
- Fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Protein: 4 g