Description
Festive Christmas cheesecake bars bring holiday cheer with creamy, spiced layers nestled on a crumbly graham cracker base. Peppermint and rich chocolate create a merry dessert that will delight your senses and spread seasonal joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1 (8.5 ounces / 241 grams) Sugar Cookie Mix
- 3/4 can Cherry Pie Filling
Binding and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1 Egg
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 4 tablespoons Butter, Cold
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
Garnish:
- 1/3 cup Almonds, Sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the oven to 350°F and ready an 8×8 baking pan by coating with non-stick spray and lining with parchment paper for effortless removal.
- Create the crust by combining sugar cookie mix with cold, cubed butter using fingers or fork until mixture resembles coarse, wet sand. Separate 3/4 cup of this mixture for topping, then firmly press remaining crumbs into pan bottom. Bake for 10 minutes and refrigerate to solidify.
- Craft the cheesecake layer by whipping cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla, and egg in a mixing bowl until ultra-smooth and creamy, carefully scraping bowl sides to eliminate potential lumps.
- Distribute cheesecake mixture evenly across cooled crust, then gently layer cherry pie filling across the surface without blending the two layers.
- Transform reserved cookie mixture into streusel by incorporating sliced almonds. Generously sprinkle this crumbly topping across cherry layer, aiming for maximum coverage.
- Bake for 40 minutes until golden and center appears slightly wobbly. Allow bars to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for 2 hours until completely set and chilled.
Notes
- Chill the crust before adding the cheesecake layer to prevent crumbling and ensure a clean, distinct base.
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes to achieve a smoother, lump-free mixture that blends easily.
- Use a spatula to spread cherry filling gently, creating beautiful swirls without disrupting the cheesecake layer underneath.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg