Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – this holiday dessert with graham crackers and pecan crust, classical creamy cheesecake layer, pumpkin cheesecake layer and streusel topping with oats and pecans will fulfill all your expectations. It’s a perfect Thanksgiving dessert.
48oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 ½cupgranulated sugar
3teaspoonvanilla extract
4large egg at room temperature
1cupsour cream at room temperature
1tablespoonall purpose flour
1can15 ounces pumpkin puree
1 ½teaspoonground cinnamon
1teaspoonground nutmeg
½teaspoonground ginger
STREUSEL TOPPING:
½cupunsalted buttermelted
¾cupall purpose flour
1cupold fashioned rolled oats
¾cuplight brown sugar
1 ¼teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonnutmeg
½teaspoonsalt
½cuppecansfinely chopped
Instructions
TO MAKE THE CRUST - Preheat the oven to 350 F. Then, line with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray on a 9x13 inch baking pan and set aside. Next, combine graham cracker crumbs, light brown sugar, cinnamon, finally chopped pecans and melted butter in a medium sized dish. Put the mixture in an already prepared pan, spread it evenly and then press with a measuring cup to make solid and even layer. Bake for 8 minutes and then cool completely before adding a cheesecake layer.
TO MAKE THE CHEESECAKE LAYER - In a medium sized dish, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla at medium-low speed until smooth, then add one egg at a time and continue beating until combined. Next, add flour and sour cream and mix some more to combine all the ingredients. Do not overmix! Then, put 5 cups of cheesecake filling over the graham cracker crust and spread evenly. Leave it in the freezer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a pumpkin cheesecake layer.
TO MAKE THE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE LAYER - Fold pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in the remaining cheesecake filling. Mix it until combined and then spread evenly over the cheesecake layer and bake for 30 minutes at 350 F. Meanwhile, prepare streusel topping.
TO MAKE STREUSEL TOPPING - combine flour, rolled oats, light brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and pecans, then add melted butter and mix until well combined. The mixture should be crumbly. After 30 minutes, take the cheesecake out of the oven and sprinkle it with streusel. Bake the cake for another 40-50 minutes or until the edges are solid and slightly inflated and the center dented and swaying when you shake the pan up.
When the cake is ready, turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in it, with the door open for an hour, then leave it to cool completely at room temperature. Finally, leave the cake covered in the fridge for at least 6 hours, possibly for 24 hours. Cut the cake into cubes before serving with caramel sauce or whipped topping.
Notes
The ingredients should be room temperature. Cream cheese, eggs and sour cream should be taken out of the fridge for at least one hour before using in order to beat them well.
Do not overbeat! Beat cheesecake filling at medium-low speed, not for too long, otherwise, there is a risk of air getting in and your cheesecake will have small holes in it, or there will be cracks on top.
Make sure not to overbeat eggs, try only to combine them, otherwise your cheesecake can get cracks on top.
Do not use quick oats combined with melted butter, or your streusel will be moist and too soft. Rolled oats should only be used.
How to store Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars? Keep them covered well in a fridge for 4-5 days.