Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Chill Time
4 hrs
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Total Time
5 hrs
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Servings
24 large bars
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Calories
293 kcal
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Course
Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars
Description
This dessert recipe begins with a crust made from finely ground graham crackers, chopped pecans, sugar, and melted butter pressed firmly into a baking pan. The cheesecake layer mixes cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon to create a fluffy, spiced filling. Over this, a snickerdoodle cookie dough layer enriched with butter, sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and flour is spread in spoonfuls and gently pressed to cover the cheesecake.
Baked until the cookie layer is golden and the cheesecake is set but slightly jiggly, the bars offer a moist creamy center under a tender, cinnamon-scented cookie crust with a bit of nutty crunch. Once cooled, the bars are topped with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar to enhance their spiced flavor.
The bars benefit from chilling for several hours or overnight, which firms the cheesecake and lets flavors meld. This dessert pairs well with coffee or tea and can be cut into bars for parties or family treats.
Notes advise letting cream cheese soften before mixing to ensure a smooth filling and caution against overbaking to maintain the proper cheesecake texture. The recipe highlights the author's preferred graham cracker crust recipe with or without nuts.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 ½ cup graham cracker crumbs about 12 full size grahams
- ½ cup pecans chopped
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter melted, unsalted
For the cheesecake filling:
- 2 packages cream cheese 8 ounce each, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg large
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
For the snickerdoodle layer:
- ¾ cup butter softened, unsalted
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg large
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup pecans chopped
For the topping:
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Line a 13x9 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat oven for 350 degrees.
- In a food processor, pulse graham crackers with pecans and sugar until fine crumbs. Add in melted butter and pulse until combined.
- Press crumbs into bottom of prepared baking dish. Using palm of your hand (or bottom of a cup) press crumbs firmly until they are pressed into the bottom of the pan.
- For the cheesecake filling, beat cream cheese with sugar, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon using the whisk attachment of an electric mixer. Beat until fluffy and smooth (about 3-4 minutes). Pour over graham crust.
- For the cookie dough, beat butter with sugar for 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat thoroughly. Add in baking powder, salt, flour and cinnamon and beat until fully combined. Fold in chopped pecans. Scoop dough by large spoonfuls onto the top of the cheesecake layer. Try to use your fingertips to spread gently until cheesecake layer if fully covered.
- In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon topping. Sprinkle generously over the cookie dough layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, middle may still "jiggle." That's okay. You want the cookie layer to be completely cooked and browned. Remove from oven and cool completely. Once cooled, cover with foil and refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight. Cut into squares and enjoy. Keep leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Allow cream cheese to soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing for smoother cheesecake filling.
- Remove bars from oven when the cookie layer is fully baked and brown but the cheesecake center remains slightly jiggly to avoid overbaking.
- Chill the bars for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, for best texture and flavor before cutting.
- Use the recommended graham cracker crust techniques for best results, accommodating nuts or nut-free variations.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24large bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 293 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bar | |
| Calories | 293kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 36g | 12% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7g | 41% |
| Cholesterol | 56mg | 19% |
| Sodium | 112mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 25g | 50% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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