If you need a pretty jar mix that actually earns its keep, this Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix does the job. It bakes into rich, buttery bars with a creamy cheesecake layer, bright cherry swirls, and just enough almond flavor to make people think you fussed a lot more than you did.
Make your own Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix for a lovely addition to a Gourmet Gift basket or as a delicious dessert for your own family.
It also pulls double duty. Layer the dry mix in a jar for gifting, or keep the pantry portion ready so dessert is halfway done before you even preheat the oven.
Ingredients
Youll make one pantry mix first, then turn that mix into cheesecake bars with a short list of refrigerated ingredients.
For the jar mix:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 3/4 cup white chocolate pieces or vanilla chips
To bake the bars:
- 1 jar Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
For the cream cheese topping:
- 1 package cream cheese, softened, 4 ounces
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cherry preserves
If youre gifting the mix, pack the dried cherries, sliced almonds, and white chocolate chips separately inside the jar so they stay distinct and look tidy instead of settling into one sugary landslide.
How to Make the Mix
- Layer the flour, salt, and brown sugar in a clean quart jar.
- Place the dried cherries, sliced almonds, and white chocolate pieces in a separate small bag.
- Tuck the filled bag into the jar and seal tightly.
That separate bag matters more than people think. It keeps the fruit from drying out the sugar layer, stops the chips from getting dusty, and makes the finished gift look like you planned it on purpose. A rare and beautiful kitchen event.
Bake the Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or spray an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.
- Remove the bag of cherries, almonds, and chips from the jar and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, cream the brown sugar, softened butter, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
- Add the flour and salt from the jar, stirring until combined.
- Stir in the dried cherries, sliced almonds, and white chocolate pieces.
- Press the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and thin.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the batter.
- Microwave the cherry preserves on high for about 20 seconds, then stir until smooth.
- Drop the preserves over the cream cheese layer and lightly draw a knife through the top to swirl.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Cool completely, then cut into 1 1/2 x 2-inch bars and refrigerate.
An 8-inch pan gives you slightly thicker bars. A 9-inch pan bakes a little flatter and a touch faster. Both work, so use what you have and carry on.
For the cleanest cuts, chill the bars before slicing. Since the topping contains cream cheese and egg, keep leftovers refrigerated. For basic leftover safety, the USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
If you like this flavor combination, you might also want to try White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar or White Chocolate Cherry Cookie Mix in a Jar.
Helpful Tips
- Soften the butter fully so the flour blends in without leaving dry streaks.
- Warm the preserves briefly so they loosen enough to swirl instead of clumping in sticky blobs.
- Do not over-swirl or the topping turns muddy instead of marbled.
- Line the pan with parchment if you want easy lifting and neater edges.
- Let the bars cool completely before refrigerating so condensation does not collect on top.
Easy Variations
- Use vanilla chips if white chocolate pieces are not what you have on hand.
- Swap in raspberry preserves for a different fruit note that still works well with almond.
- Use chopped almonds if sliced almonds are unavailable. The bars will look a little more rustic and still taste just fine.
- For a holiday tray, cut the chilled bars into smaller bite-size squares instead of full rectangles.
If cheesecake bars are your weakness, have a look at Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars for a cinnamon version that disappears just as fast.
Serving Suggestions
These bars fit just about anywhere you need a tidy dessert that still feels a little dressed up.
- Serve them chilled on a cookie tray or dessert platter.
- Pack a few in a bakery box for a hostess gift.
- Pair them with coffee, hot tea, or a simple glass of milk.
- Add them to a mixed dessert spread with Cherry Cheesecake if youre fully committed to the cherry theme.
Storage
Dry mix storage: Store the sealed jar in a cool, dry place away from light. A conservative shelf-life estimate is up to 6 months. That estimate follows the shortest-lived pantry ingredients here, especially the dried cherries, and works best when the jar is airtight.
Baked bar storage: Refrigerate the finished bars in a covered container for up to 4 days. They contain cream cheese and egg, so room-temperature storage is not a smart gamble.
Freezer storage: Freeze the baked bars in a single layer until firm, then wrap well and store for up to 2 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Make Ahead
The jar mix is the obvious make-ahead option, but you can also bake the bars a day in advance and chill them overnight. In fact, they slice more neatly when theyve had time to firm up in the refrigerator.
If youre making these for gifting, attach the baking directions to the jar and include a note that the finished bars need refrigeration after baking.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- All-Purpose Flour, 5 lb
- Plain Salt, 26 oz
- Light Brown Sugar, 2 lb
- Dried Cherries, 5 oz
- Sliced Almonds, 4 oz
- Vanilla Baking Chips, 11 oz
- Cherry Cheesecake Dessert Kit, 17.8 oz
- Unsalted Butter, 16 oz
- Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz
- Pure Almond Extract, 2 fl oz
- Cream Cheese Brick, 8 oz
- Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
- Large Eggs, 12 count
- Cherry Preserves, 18 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Heres how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
Use either one. An 8-inch pan makes thicker bars, while a 9-inch pan gives you slightly thinner bars that may finish closer to the 25-minute mark, so start checking the center early instead of wandering off and hoping for the best.
Absolutely. The recipe already allows vanilla chips, and they work nearly the same way here, giving you sweet creamy flavor without changing the bar texture or bake time.
Dried cranberries are your easiest swap if you want the same chewy bite and tart contrast. Raisins will work too, but they make the bars sweeter and a little less bright, which is a polite way of saying they change the personality.
Yes, it helps a lot. About 20 seconds in the microwave loosens the preserves so they spread in small ribbons instead of dropping in heavy clumps that tear the cream cheese layer.
Thats normal. Beating the cream cheese with the sugar and egg makes a pourable topping that spreads easily over the bar base, and it firms as the bars bake and chill.
Pull them when the edges look set and the center no longer looks wet, usually at 25 to 30 minutes. A slight jiggle in the middle is fine because the bars continue to firm up as they cool.
You can. Chill them first, freeze in a single layer until firm, then wrap well and freeze for up to 2 months for the best quality; thaw them in the refrigerator so the topping stays neat instead of weepy.
Pack the dried cherries, almonds, and chips in a separate bag inside the jar. That keeps the layers cleaner, prevents the small pieces from settling through the flour, and makes the finished mix look gift-worthy instead of accidentally shaken.
Yes, double everything evenly and bake it in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Since a larger pan can bake a little differently, start checking near the low end of the time range and continue until the center looks set.
Chill the bars completely first, then use a sharp knife and wipe it between cuts. That small step keeps the cheesecake layer and cherry swirl from smearing together, which is handy if youre serving guests and feeling fancy.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ¾ cup white chocolate pieces or vanilla chips
- 1 jar Cherry Almond White Chocolate Cheesecake Bar Mix
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 package cream cheese softened, 4 ounces
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup cherry preserves
Equipment
Instructions
- Layer the flour, salt, and brown sugar in a clean quart jar.
- Place the dried cherries, sliced almonds, and white chocolate pieces in a separate small bag and tuck the bag into the jar.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease or spray an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.
- Remove the bag of cherries, almonds, and chips from the jar and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, cream the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
- Add the flour and salt from the jar, stirring until combined.
- Stir in the dried cherries, sliced almonds, and white chocolate pieces.
- Press the batter into the prepared pan.
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and thin.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the batter.
- Microwave the cherry preserves on high for about 20 seconds, then stir to remove lumps.
- Drop the preserves over the cream cheese topping and lightly draw a knife through the topping to swirl.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Cool, cut into 1-1/2 x 2-inch bars, and refrigerate.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time is estimated from the stated steps because the recipe does not give a prep clock time.
Dry mix shelf life is an estimate of up to 6 months in an airtight jar stored in a cool, dry place.
Finished bars should be refrigerated and used within 4 days.
For best quality, freeze baked bars up to 2 months and thaw in the refrigerator.
I love white chocolate and cheesecake. I am definitely going to have to try this recipe soon. I bet it would be awesome with raspberries also
Oh wow I really can not wait to try these