Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Next, combine the softened butter, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a food processor. Process the ingredients until they start to come together as small clumps; then, press this mixture into the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish.

Once you've prepared your crust, bake it in the preheated oven until it's golden brown and reaches a desired level of crispiness, approximately 20 minutes; remove the crust from the oven. Next, reduce your oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius).

In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it's smooth and creamy. Gradually add 1 cup of granulated sugar to the bowl, stirring until it's fully incorporated. Then, add eggs one at a time, stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and even. After that, gradually stir in sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.

Pour the creamy mixture over your prepared crust. Bake it in the oven until it's firm to the touch, taking anywhere from 45 to 55 minutes; meanwhile, prepare your topping by combining fresh or frozen blueberries, granulated sugar, and cornstarch in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the mixture until it thickens, stirring occasionally.

Allow your blueberry topping to cool completely before pouring it over the cream cheese layer. Finally, assemble and chill your cheesecake in the refrigerator overnight.