Description
Spiced pumpkin cheesecake bars bring autumn’s warmth to your dessert table with creamy layers of comfort. Silky cream cheese and rich pumpkin meld beautifully, inviting you to savor each delectable bite of seasonal bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust:
- 1 cup (236 ml) graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
Filling:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 ml) pumpkin puree
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spices and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Craft a buttery graham cracker foundation by blending crumbs with melted butter and sugar, pressing uniformly into a greased 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Using an electric mixer, whip cream cheese until silky and luxurious.
- Incorporate pumpkin puree, powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, blending until achieving a velvety, homogeneous texture.
- Delicately pour the pumpkin-infused mixture over the prepared crust, ensuring an even distribution.
- Slide the baking dish into a preheated 350°F oven, allowing the bars to bake for 30-35 minutes until the center sets firmly and a toothpick emerges pristine.
- Remove from oven and permit the bars to cool completely within the baking dish, establishing structural integrity.
- Chill in refrigerator for several hours to intensify flavor profiles and develop a more compact consistency.
- Slice into elegant squares, presenting a decadent dessert that marries creamy texture with warm, autumnal spices.
Notes
- Prevent cracking by avoiding overmixing the cheesecake batter and gently folding ingredients to maintain a smooth texture.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs for a similar base.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom to complement the existing warm spices in the pumpkin mixture.
- Control moisture by using full-fat cream cheese and draining excess liquid from pumpkin puree to ensure a firm, creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 255 kcal
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg