Christmas Cheesecake Bars: A Festive Treat for Your Holiday Gatherings

These Christmas cheesecake bars are a delightful combination of a buttery, crumbly crust topped with a rich, creamy cheesecake filling. Perfect for holiday parties or as a sweet treat to enjoy with loved ones, they are sure to become a new festive favorite. For the best results, make sure to refrigerate these bars for at least 4 hours before serving. Want to make them even more festive? Consider swapping the color of the sprinkles for a new holiday twist.

Ingredients

For the Crust and Crumble:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup holiday-themed sprinkles (for topping)

For the Filling:

2 packages (8 ounces each) full-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
A pinch of ground nutmeg
2/3 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9x9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra paper overhanging on the sides for easy removal later.
Make the Crust: In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, white sugar, salt, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture for 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup of flour, mixing until well combined. Add the remaining 1 cup of flour and mix until the dough becomes crumbly. Stir in the sprinkles by hand until evenly distributed. Take about 1 1/2 cups of the crumble mixture and press it firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Reserve the remaining crumble for topping.
Bake the Crust: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges of the crust turn golden. Once baked, remove the crust from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Keep the oven on.
Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: While the crust is baking, prepare the filling. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, salt, and nutmeg with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the heavy cream and lemon juice and beat until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition until fully incorporated.
Assemble the Bars: After the crust has cooled for 5 minutes, pour the cheesecake filling over the crust, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture on top of the cheesecake filling, breaking up any large chunks of dough if needed.
Bake the Cheesecake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges of the cheesecake bars are slightly puffed and set, while the center remains slightly jiggly. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool to room temperature.
Chill and Serve: Once the bars have cooled to room temperature, refrigerate them for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the filling to firm up. After chilling, cut into 16 bars and serve.

Pro Tips:

For an extra festive touch, feel free to swap out the holiday sprinkles for colors that match your celebration theme.
These cheesecake bars can be made a day ahead to save time during busy holiday preparations. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

With their irresistible combination of creamy, sweet cheesecake and a crunchy, flavorful crust, these Christmas cheesecake bars are sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering. Enjoy!