Description
Creamy pecan pie cheesecake bars blend Southern comfort with rich, indulgent flavors that dance across your palate. Layers of buttery graham cracker crust, velvety cheesecake, and caramelized pecans promise a dessert experience you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust:
- 2.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake Layer:
- 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) packages cream cheese, softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pecan Topping:
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cup light corn syrup
- 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream
- 0.25 cup (0.5 stick) unsalted butter
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and position a rack in the center. Armor a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for effortless extraction.
- Transform graham crackers and sugar into fine crumbs using a food processor. Incorporate melted butter and pulse until uniform. Compress the mixture firmly into the baking dish’s base, creating a solid foundation.
- Whip cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer for 3-5 minutes until silky and aerated. Distribute the creamy mixture evenly across the graham cracker base.
- Construct the pecan sauce by merging brown sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Maintain constant stirring until boiling, then simmer for one minute. Eliminate from heat and fold in vanilla and chopped pecans, allowing slight cooling.
- Delicately cascade the pecan mixture atop the cheesecake layer, preventing submersion. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes.
- Extract from oven and permit complete cooling at room temperature. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate for minimum 4 hours or overnight to solidify layers.
- Leverage parchment paper to elevate the entire dessert, then slice into 16 uniform squares.
- Enhance serving with optional garnishes: dollop whipped cream, drizzle chocolate, or sprinkle sea salt for sophisticated flavor complexity.
- Ensure ingredients are room temperature to guarantee a luxuriously smooth cheesecake texture.
Notes
- Opt for room temperature ingredients to achieve a silky-smooth cheesecake layer without lumps.
- Prevent pecan mixture from sinking by gently spooning it over the cheesecake base, using a light touch.
- Chill bars completely before slicing to ensure clean, picture-perfect cuts and set layers.
- Customize the dessert by adding a sprinkle of sea salt, drizzle of chocolate, or dollop of whipped cream for extra indulgence.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 341 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 104 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg