Strawberry and Lime Cheesecake Bars

Preheat oven to 350ºF and line an 8×8 in baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In the bowl of a food processor, add the golden sandwich cookies. Pulse until they are completely broken down. Add the sugar, and pulse again until combined. Drizzle in the melted butter and pulse until the mixture comes together. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to fully incorporate. Pour the crumbs into the prepared baking dish and press down to make an even, sealed layer. Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.

For the filling, add the strawberries with a tablespoon or two of water to the pitcher of your blender. Pulse until completely smooth. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment fixed, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the strawberry puree and mix again until incorporated. Add the egg, vanilla extract, lime juice and gelatin. Mix again until completely smooth and ingredients are incorporated.

Pour the filling onto the baked crust, smooth out with a rubber spatula and place back in the oven to bake for 15-17 minutes or until the filling is set. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Cut into bars and serve.

These bars can also be served chilled. After the bars have cooled, cover them and place in the refrigerator. Garnish with strawberries if desired.

Keep the bars stored in an airtight container. Enjoy!