Delicious Cheesecake Bars Recipe 🍰

Overview:

I stumbled upon this delightful recipe for Cheesecake Bars while perusing the pages of the Houston Chronicle. Originally crafted by the talented Audrey Earley from Sugarland, Texas, this recipe has garnered quite the reputation for its irresistible taste. Having tried it myself over the weekend, I can attest that it’s a real crowd-pleaser! 🌟

Recipe Details:

• Category: Bar Cookie
• Keywords: Dessert, Cookie & Brownie, Cheese, Potluck, Sweet, < 60 Mins, For Large Groups, Oven, Refrigerator
• Servings: 16
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Calories: 180.2 per serving
• Nutritional Information (per serving):
  • Fat Content: 11.4g
  • Saturated Fat Content: 5.4g
  • Cholesterol Content: 37mg
  • Sodium Content: 84.2mg
  • Carbohydrate Content: 17.9g
  • Fiber Content: 0.5g
  • Sugar Content: 11.3g
  • Protein Content: 2.5g

Ingredients:

• 5 tablespoons of butter
• 1/3 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray.
3. For the crust and topping: In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth.
4. Add the flour to the mixture and stir until well combined.
5. Stir in the chopped pecans, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
6. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture for the topping.
7. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, creating an even layer.
8. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
9. Meanwhile, in another mixing bowl, blend together the granulated sugar and softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
10. Add in the egg, milk, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, and beat until well combined.
11. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the baked crust in the pan.
12. Sprinkle the reserved topping mixture over the cream cheese layer.
13. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden brown and the center is set.
14. Allow the cheesecake bars to cool completely in the pan.
15. Once cooled, chill the bars in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
16. Cut the chilled cheesecake bars into either triangles or squares, as desired.
17. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Pro Tips:

• To ensure a smooth cream cheese filling, make sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing.
• For an extra touch of flavor, consider adding a dash of cinnamon to the topping mixture.
• These cheesecake bars can be easily doubled by using a 9×13-inch baking pan. Simply adjust the baking time accordingly.

Enjoy these scrumptious Cheesecake Bars with friends and family at your next gathering! They’re sure to be a hit 🎉.