Rich Cheesecake Squares With a Marble Twist

Rich Cheesecake Squares With a Marble Twist

Spunky Guide: Ditch the hassle of traditional cheesecakes and opt for these hassle-free cheesecake bars instead! With a cookie crust and a playful twist of chocolate-vanilla swirls, you'll find no shortage of goodness in every bite. While a flawless cheesecake might steal the show, these portable treats reign supreme in both flavor and convenience.

Gameplan: You can prepare these cheesecake bars up to two days ahead, so pop them in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

These bars graced our "Dude Food for Father's Day" menu, leaving no chance for disappointment.

• Quantity: Approximately 18 bars
• Skill Level: Medium
• Prep Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes, plus cooling time
• Active Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients (9)

For the crust:

• 2 1/2 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs, such as Nabisco Nilla Wafers
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted

For the filling:

• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 4 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

Directive

Prepping the crust:

1. Warm up your oven to 325°F, and put a rack in the middle.
2. Slick a 13-by-9-inch pan with butter. Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter in a medium bowl until well combined. Spread the crumb mixture evenly into the pan and press it down with the bottom of a cup until it's evenly compacted along the bottom and slightly up the sides.

Creating the filling:

1. In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, until evenly melted. Give it a rest to cool down a bit, about 15 minutes.
2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together sugar and flour. While your stand mixer is running on medium speed, add the sugar-flour mixture to the cream cheese and mix until incorporated. Stop the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle.
3. With the mixer running on low, add vanilla and an egg, giving it time to combine completely. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle again. Repeat with the remaining two eggs, allowing each to incorporate before adding the next.
4. Transfer 2 3/4 cups of the batter from the mixer into a separate medium bowl. Reserve this for later. Add the cooled chocolate to the remaining batter in the mixer and mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.
5. Add dollops of chocolate batter randomly over the crust, followed by dollops of the reserved vanilla batter. Swirl the batters together using a knife in a figure-eight motion to create a marbled pattern. Bake until the outer inch of the batter sets and the middle is slightly wobbling, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven to a rack and let cool completely before refrigerating until well chilled and firm, about 1 to 2 hours. Slice into squares and serve!

P.S.: If you can't seem to find a specific "Marble Cheesecake Bars" recipe for "Dude Food for Dad's Day," I've included a general recipe below that you can adapt to fit any theme or flavor combination you desire!

Marble Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Ingredients:

• Crust:
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons (84g) unsalted butter, melted
• Filling:
• 16 ounces (450g) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 ounces (225g) sour cream
• Marble Effect:
• 1/4 cup of your desired flavor for the marble (e.g., melted chocolate, food coloring mixed with cheesecake batter)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven:
2. Heat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
3. Prepare Crust:
4. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl until well combined.
5. Press the mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, then let it cool.
7. Prepare Cheesecake Filling:
8. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
9. Gradually add sugar and beat until combined.
10. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.
11. Stir in sour cream until well combined.
12. Create Marble Effect:
13. Divide the cheesecake batter into two portions in separate bowls.
14. For one portion, you can add your preferred marble effect ingredient (like melted chocolate or a few drops of food coloring).
15. Assemble Cheesecake Bars:
16. Pour the plain cheesecake batter over the cooked crust.
17. Dollop or drizzle the marbled batter on top of the plain cheesecake batter.
18. Use a knife or spatula to create a marbled design by gently swirling the two batters together.
19. Bake:
20. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
21. Let it cool completely in the pan.
22. Chill:
23. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.
24. Cut into bars and serve.

To give it a masculine touch for "Dad's Day," consider using flavors like nuts, caramel, or coffee to enhance its appeal. Happy baking!

1. The Spunky Guide offers a hassle-free cheesecake alternative, suggesting Marble Cheesecake Bars instead of traditional ones, with an uncategorized cookie crust and a delightful chocolate-vanilla swirl.
2. The Gameplan recommends preparing these bars up to two days ahead, suggesting that you refrigerate them in an airtight container for storage.
3. For the crust of the Marble Cheesecake Bars, the recipe calls for coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate, reminiscent of the chocolate used in the original recipe.
4. In the general Marble Cheesecake Bars recipe, you can offer a variety of flavors to tailor the dessert to specific themes or occasions, such as nuts, caramel, or coffee for a masculine touch on Father's Day.

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