Description
Delightfully festive Christmas Cherry Cheesecake Bars combining a buttery graham cracker crust with a creamy, smooth cream cheese filling and luscious cherry pie topping. Perfectly swirled or clustered cherries add vibrant color and bursts of fruity flavor, making these bars an irresistible holiday treat.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Topping and Garnish
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
- Holiday sprinkles or white chocolate drizzle for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter until well mixed. Press this mixture firmly and evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Bake the crust: Bake the crust for 8–10 minutes until set and slightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly while preparing the filling.
- Make the cheesecake filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to ensure a smooth texture. Stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract if using.
- Assemble the bars: Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust and spread it out evenly. Spoon dollops of cherry pie filling over the top. For a marbled effect, gently swirl the cherries into the cheesecake batter using a knife. Alternatively, leave the cherry filling in clusters for pockets of fruit.
- Bake the bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes until the cheesecake center is just set and the edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking to keep the filling creamy.
- Cool and chill: Let the bars cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Then refrigerate for at least 3 hours to fully set before slicing into bars.
- Serve and garnish: Before serving, optionally decorate the bars with holiday sprinkles or a drizzle of melted white chocolate for a festive touch.
Notes
- For clean slices, use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between each cut.
- These bars can be prepared 1–2 days in advance and kept refrigerated.
- Allow sufficient chilling time for the bars to set properly before serving.
- Almond extract is optional but adds a lovely complementary flavor to the cherry and cream cheese.
