Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
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Posted: 09/18/22
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Rich, sweet, creamy and velvety swirled Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with a buttery, spiced graham cracker crust make the perfect fall dessert. The answer when you need to make dessert for a crowd with all your favorite fall flavors!
We love all the pumpkin recipes and these cheesecake bars are a must-make! The combination of cool and creamy cheesecake, spiced pumpkin, and the graham cracker crust is a great way to get your pumpkin fix.
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Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert Bars!
- This recipe is a classic baked cheesecake turned into a fall-spiced pumpkin dessert bar. The pumpkin cheesecake filling is so velvety and rich.
- We pair it with a buttery graham cracker crust, but you can easily switch it to a gingersnap crust or vanilla cookie crust! I’m sharing all the variations so you can put your own spin on it.
- It’s the best dessert recipe to make ahead because the bars need to chill before you serve them. They’re also freezer-friendly.
If you love pumpkin pie, you will love these cheesecake bars. Make them for Thanksgiving or any time you’re craving an amazing fall dessert. And then in the Spring, make this delicious Lemon Meringue Cheesecake.
Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients
- Crushed graham crackers – Or, you can use crushed gingersnaps or vanilla wafer cookies to make the crust.
- Brown sugar – I love the flavor this adds to the crust, but you can use granulated sugar instead.
- Granulated sugar
- Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Or, you can 2 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice instead.
- Melted salted butter – If you use unsalted butter you will need to add 1/4 teaspoon of salt when you make the crust.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling Ingredients
- Cream cheese – Full-fat cream cheese works the best!
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Heavy cream – This adds so much richness!
- Large whole eggs plus one extra egg yolk – That extra yolk adds a touch more richness to make the filling so good.
- Cornstarch – This thickens the filling so it has the best texture.
- Spices: Nutmeg, ginger, and cloves flavor the filling.
- Salt – This enhances all the flavors in the filling.
- Pumpkin puree – Don’t use pumpkin pie filling, it’s not the same thing! Be sure to buy canned pumpkin puree.
How to Make Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Make the Crust: Mix the graham cracker crumbs with both kinds of sugar and spices. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. Press the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the oven and bake the crust for 10 minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack so the crust can cool while you make the filling.
Make the Plain Cheesecake Filling: Cream the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the vanilla and cream. Add the eggs and mix for 30 seconds. Add the cornstarch and spices and mix until combined.
Make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling: Transfer half of the cheesecake filling to a separate bowl. Add the pumpkin puree and mix to combine.
Swirl! To create the swirls, alternate dropping the plain filling and pumpkin filling onto the cooled crust with a spoon. Once all of the batter is in the pan, use a knife to swirl the two batters together.
Bake the Cheesecake Bars: Place the pan in the oven and bake the cheesecake for 45 minutes or until the center of the bars is set. Place the pan on the wire rack so the cheesecake can cool to room temperature.
Chill the Bars: Once cooled, cover the pan with plastic wrap and chill the bars for at least six to eight hours so they can set.
Tips for the Best Cheesecake Bars
- For the best smooth filling: Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowls as you make the filling. This will ensure everything is mixed with no lumps.
- Swirling tip: Use a cookie scoop to drop the two different fillings into the pan. This will make it easy to do it evenly so you get those pretty swirls.
- For the best cheesecake texture: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature first and then chill them in the fridge before slicing them. This will ensure they have the best velvety texture.
- Tip for slicing the bars: Use a sharp knife and slice slowly through the bars. Be sure to cut all the way through the crust. For the cleanest slices, wipe you knife after each slice to clean it.
- Serving tip: They are delicious plain, but a whipped cream on top of each slice dresses them up! You can spoon it on or pipe it on top.
How long do pumpkin cheesecake bars keep?
Refrigerator: Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for four days.
Freezer: You can freeze them, too! Stack them in a freezer container with wax paper separating each layer. They will keep well in the freezer for up to two months. Let them thaw at room temperature before you serve them.
It’s not fall at our house until we make our first pumpkin recipe! I hope you make these pumpkin cheesecake bars your first fall dessert of the year – they’re so creamy, rich, and all about those fall flavors. Enjoy!
More Sweet Fall Recipes
- Caramel Rice Krispie Treats are a twist on the classic no-bake cereal bar. They’re ooey-gooey with caramel in every bite.
- Make a batch of Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples – they’re so good with ice cream!
- Pumpkin Cupcakes are easy to make and perfect for sharing! Don’t forget the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting to go with them
- Apple Pie Bars are bursting with apple flavor with caramel mixed in. They’re easy to make and great for holidays or just because.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Rich, velvety Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with a delicious spiced graham cracker crust is the perfect easy dessert for fall.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 3 ½ cups crushed graham crackers
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ¾ cup salted butter melted
Cheesecake:
- 24 ounces cream cheese
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 3 eggs + 1 yolk
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
Instructions
Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9×13” baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine crushed graham crackers, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Add in the melted butter and mix until the texture is a moist crumb.
- Transfer the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and press down evenly. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Once baked, remove from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack to cool. Make the cheesecake filling.
Cheesecake:
- Keep the oven preheated to 350°. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment combine cream cheese and sugar. Mix until smooth.
- Add in vanilla and mix to combine, then add heavy cream and continue mixing until combined. Add eggs and mix for 30 seconds.
- Next add in cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger and cloves and mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter in half, putting one half into a separate mixing bowl.
- Add the pumpkin puree to one of the bowls and mix to combine.
- Dollop the batter on top of the prebaked crust, starting with the plain cheesecake, then the pumpkin cheesecake.
- Keep going back and forth until all the batter is used, then swirl the batters together with a knife.
- Place into the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 45 minutes, until the center is set. Once baked, remove from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack to let cool completely.
- Once cooled, cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to let chill for 6-8 hours before serving.
Tips
- For the best smooth filling: Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowls as you make the filling. This will ensure everything is mixed with no lumps.
- Swirling tip: Use a cookie scoop to drop the two different fillings into the pan. This will make it easy to do it evenly so you get those pretty swirls.
- For the best cheesecake texture: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature first and then chill them in the fridge before slicing them. This will ensure they have the best velvety texture.
- Tip for slicing the bars: Use a sharp knife and slice slowly through the bars. Be sure to cut all the way through the crust. For the cleanest slices, wipe you knife after each slice to clean it.
- Serving tip: They are delicious plain, but a whipped cream on top of each slice dresses them up! You can spoon it on or pipe it on top.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 458kcal (23%), Carbohydrates: 39g (13%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 32g (49%), Saturated Fat: 18g (113%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 115mg (38%), Sodium: 450mg (20%), Potassium: 169mg (5%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 25g (28%), Vitamin A: 3639IU (73%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 91mg (9%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
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