Easy Grapefruit Cheesecake Bars with Mint
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This easy grapefruit cheesecake with mint is rich yet refreshing. It’s a perfect summer dessert for any occasion.
Spring has been a huge tease here in Michigan this year. We’ve had a few (very few) warm days and then it plummets back to cold and even snow. Saturday was gorgeous and sunny but so deceiving because it was cold! But hey, I’ll still take the sun.
I’m eager to get into our yard and start some planting and gardening. I’m far from having a green thumb, and really, I just want an abundance of fresh herbs back in my life, but it’s fun to plant something and see it (hopefully) grow. My chives are already off to a great start and I haven’t even done anything besides remove some dead leaves from the ground. I wish all plants were perennials.
Spring is also the time of year when I try to cast aside my high-strung type-A personality and let the kids shovel dirt into the flower pots with me, making a gigantic mess. Of course, the battle to let them be kids and forget about that part of my personality is a constant internal struggle, but planting flowers is one job that they seem to especially enjoy.
Any gardening tips for me? Any new and fun herbs I should try planting? Last year I had rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, basil (didn’t do so well), oregano, mint, and something else that died I think….can’t remember what. Oh, cilantro! That was the hardest one to keep alive, and also one that I use the most often. SO sad!
About this Grapefruit Cheesecake Recipe:
Does cheesecake intimidate any of you? Springform pans, cracks, and 4 blocks of cream cheese? Seems a little scary to me, too, if I’m being honest. In true Rachel Cooks form, this recipe is significantly easier than the traditional version of cheesecake.
This grapefruit cheesecake is made with only one eight ounce package of cream cheese (you can use reduced fat!), and baked in an 8×8 or 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper. After you let the grapefruit cheesecake bars cool, all you need to do is lift that parchment paper out and slice the cheesecake into squares. It’s SO easy.
Used in this recipe:
Love pink grapefruit?
I love the the beautiful color, tartness, and juiciness of pink grapefruit! I enjoy it plain or in these recipes:
- Spring salad with rose vinaigrette, asparagus, and grapefruit
- Citrus salad with mint, honey, and lime
- Citrus and beef skewers with grapefruit and garlic
- Easy grapefruit slush recipe by She Wears Many Hats
- Pink grapefruit yogurt cake recipe by 2 Peas and Their Pod
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (or 10 full sheets graham crackers)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest
- Grapefruit slices and fresh mint for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray an 8 or 9-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray; line with parchment paper and then spray parchment paper.
- If you have whole graham crackers, use a food processor to crush crackers into fine crumbs. Stir in sugar and melted butter into the graham cracker crumbs and mix until combined. Press firmly into prepared pan. (I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to do this.)
- Bake crust for 7 minutes. Remove from oven.
- While the crust is baking, beat the cream cheese until fluffy using an electric mixer and then beat in the egg, sweetened condensed milk, grapefruit juice and the zest until combined. Filling will be very runny.
- Once combined, pour filling onto your crust and bake until golden brown around the edges and the middle is slightly jiggly, about 35 minutes.
- Cool bars in refrigerator for at least 4 hours before slicing (they’ll continue to firm up in the fridge).
- Top with fresh grapefruit slices and fresh mint immediately before serving.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Husband’s take: He liked these more than I actually thought he would – he’s not a big cheesecake fan usually…or grapefruit for that matter. He left behind some of the graham cracker crust, stating it was “too rich,” but I think he’s crazy and that’s the best part!
Changes I would make: None are necessary!
Difficulty: For a cheesecake, easy! It will appear alarmingly runny, even after cooking. Trust your gut and the baking instructions and let it cool completely in the fridge. It will set up and be perfect for slicing.
marq says
Can this be made a day ahead?
Rachel Gurk says
That should be fine – just wait until immediately before serving to add any toppings.
Julie @ Cooks with Cocktails says
Yum! This looks delish and I love that its not fussy. This one is going on the list.
Claire Volkman says
I’m in love with that juicy grapefruit on top!!
rachel @ athletic avocado says
I love the grapefruit and mint combo here, sounds so refreshing and perfect for spring :)
DessertForTwo says
I am such a grapefruit lover! And I love how you make these easy :)
Christine @ WRY TOAST says
I grow a little urban garden on my NYC terrace, and my Basil + Cilantro grew like WEEDS last year, I could barely keep up! I think the key for those plants is not nearly as much sun as they tell you they need. Mine were grown North-facing, so maybe that will help :)
denise says
sounds refreshing
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
oh man, what a treat! i love pairing fruit with mint…i bet this combo is spectacular!
cookbook queen says
Girl, I have the blackest thumbs in the land. If you figure out how to grow something without killing it, send me your tips!!! Love that these are grapefruit flavored — such a perfect Summer flavor!!