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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 65 reviews

Creamy pumpkin cheesecake swirled into a graham cracker crust in bar form, dusted with warm pumpkin spice for a classic fall dessert that’s perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust

  • 15 whole rectangular graham crackers (yields just over 2 cups of crumbs)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

Filling

  • 1–¼ cups pumpkin puree
  • 1–½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1–½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 3 8-oz packages full-fat cream cheese (at room temperature)
  • 1–⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 1–½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup full-fat sour cream
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs (at room temperature)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven and Pan, Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, then lightly grease the foil. 2. Make the Crust, Place graham crackers in a food processor and blend until fine crumbs form. Combine the crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl, mixing until fully combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the back of a measuring cup to compact it. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until lightly golden and fragrant. Let cool slightly. 3. Prepare the Filling, In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and flour. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with a hand or stand mixer until smooth. Add vanilla, sour cream, and salt, and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl’s sides as needed. Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until combined after each addition. Measure 1-½ cups of the cream cheese mixture, then mix it into the reserved pumpkin mixture until smooth. 4. Assemble and Swirl, Alternate spoonfuls of plain cream cheese filling and pumpkin filling on top of the crust. Use a sharp knife to create swirls by dragging through the filling in a figure-eight motion, but avoid reaching down to the crust. 5. Bake and Chill, Bake in the center of the oven for 35-45 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center will have a slight jiggle. Remove and let cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate for several hours until fully chilled.

Notes

  • For easier removal, chill the bars in the pan using the foil to lift them out for slicing.
  • Allow the bars to chill overnight if you can; this helps the flavors meld and makes them easier to cut cleanly.
  • If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, substitute 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and a pinch of allspice.

Keywords: pumpkin cheesecake bars, pumpkin dessert, cheesecake bars, fall dessert, pumpkin spice