Cheesecake Bars

Decadent Cheesecake Bars

Indulge in these rich and creamy Cheesecake Bars, a perfect blend of smooth cheesecake, peanut butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread, and a luscious ganache topping. Whether for a special occasion or a sweet treat at home, these bars are sure to satisfy your cravings.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

• 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably Skippy or Jif
• 1/4 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Crust:

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 20 Oreo cookies
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Ganache:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (about 1 1/3 cups)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon flaky salt

Directions

1. Prepare the Ingredients:

1. Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl if using an electric hand mixer).
2. Place the sour cream and eggs on the counter to come to room temperature.

2. Make the Crust:

1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and position a rack in the middle.
2. Line the bottom and two opposite sides of a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave or on the stovetop.
4. In a food processor, pulse the Oreo cookies and salt until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand.
5. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan using the bottom of a flat measuring cup.
6. Bake until the crust is set and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, keeping the oven at 350ºF.

3. Make the Filling:

1. Add the sugar to the cream cheese and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
2. Add the sour cream, peanut butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on medium speed until just combined, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating until combined and the mixture is smooth.
4. Pour the filling over the crust and spread into an even layer.
5. Bake until the filling is just set but has a slight jiggle in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

4. Make the Ganache:

1. Place the chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl.
2. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until simmering. Pour over the chocolate chips and let sit for 2 minutes.
3. Whisk until smooth and glossy.
4. Pour the ganache over the cooled cheesecake in an even layer. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate begins to firm up, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
5. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

5. Serve:

1. Lift the cheesecake out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and place it on a cutting board.
2. Cut into 16 bars, dipping the knife in hot water and wiping it dry between each cut for clean edges.

Nutritional Information

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Calories: 310 kcal per serving
• Servings: 16

Enjoy these delightful Cheesecake Bars as a perfect dessert for any occasion. The creamy filling combined with the rich ganache topping creates a decadent treat that will leave everyone wanting more!

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