Straightforward Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars Recipe

November 16, 2024

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These cranberry cheesecake bars have a graham cracker crust, creamy vanilla cheesecake filling with a contemporary cranberry sauce swirled all through, and a crumble topping. These bars are a simple dessert in your vacation desk and may be made the day earlier than!

cranberry cheesecake bar on parchment paper

On the subject of the vacations, cranberries I feel have to be used as a lot as potential. The tart cranberries I feel pair so effectively in so many baked items. Like my cranberry bundt cake, or my cranberry orange scones, and my fast cranberry orange bread. I can by no means resist a cranberry dessert!

And this time I feel I’ve created one of the best cranberry dessert ever for the vacation season – these cranberry cream cheese bars made with a buttery graham cracker crust, easy cranberry sauce swirled into the filling, and a brown sugar crumble sprinkled excessive. Let’s simply say I couldn’t cease consuming these!

I began with my conventional cheesecake bars as the bottom and swirled within the fast cranberry sauce I made on the stovetop.

You possibly can skip the crumble, however why would you? It’s one of the best! So when you’re searching for a dessert that’s straightforward to make, which you could additionally make upfront – these cranberry cheesecake bars are it!

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cranberry cheesecake bar on a plate with a forkful on a plate

Why This Recipe Works

Nice option to expend leftover cranberry sauce!
Creamy cheesecake filling that’s a breeze to make within the mixer
Fast graham cracker crust you can also make in your meals processor
A crumble topping that’s combined up in minutes and sprinkled on high
Excellent vacation dessert to make forward to ease the vacation stress

cranberry cheesecake bar on a plate with more bars in the background

Substances Wanted

Water
Granulated Sugar
Recent cranberries – Or you should utilize frozen cranberries
Orange – I used the zest of 1 orange, however you can additionally use lemon zest.
Graham crackers – Should you can’t discover graham crackers, you should utilize digestive biscuits or Nilla wafers.
Brown sugar – I used mild brown sugar for the graham cracker crust however granulated sugar or darkish brown sugar may even work. Should you don’t have attempt making your personal home made brown sugar.
Butter – I used unsalted butter however salted butter may even work.
Cream cheese – Be certain that your cream cheese is softened so it blends up easily. And use full-fat cream cheese within the blocks for finest texture. Learn my full tutorial on tips on how to soften cream cheese.
Bitter cream – I used full-fat bitter cream however a plain full fats Greek yogurt may even work.
Massive Eggs – Use room temperature eggs. Learn my full tutorial on tips on how to convey eggs to room temperature quick.
Vanilla extract

How To Make These Cheesecake Bars

Make the cranberry sauce:

In a saucepan, mix the sugar, water, cranberries and orange zest.

Cook dinner over medium excessive warmth and convey to a boil.

Scale back warmth to medium low and simmer for 8-10 minutes till the cranberries have burst and sauce has damaged down and thickened. Take away from the warmth and apart to chill.

Make the crumble topping:

In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.

Stir in melted butter till a crumbly combination kinds. Put aside

Make crust:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF (180^oC). Line a 9×9-inch sq. baking pan with tin foil or parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray. Put aside.

In a small mixing bowl, stir collectively the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter till a crumbly combination kinds.

Press the graham cracker combination into the underside and barely up the edges of the ready pan.

Bake the graham cracker crust for 8 to 10 minutes, till set. Take away from the oven cool. Decrease the oven temperature to 325°F (160^oC).

Make cheesecake batter:

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or you are able to do this in a big mixing bowl with a hand mixer) beat the cream cheese and sugar collectively one medium velocity till clean.

sugar and cream cheese in a bowl beaten together

Add within the bitter cream, eggs, and vanilla extract and beat on low velocity till mixed, scraping down the edges of the bowl as wanted.

Pour the filling on high of the crust. Unfold the cranberry sauce on high of the filling and swirl all through with the tip of a knife.

cheesecake filling poured into a pan and cranberry sauce swirled on top

Prime the cheesecake batter with the streusel on high evenly.

Bake within the preheated 325^oF (160^oC) oven, for 40 to 45 minutes, till the sides are set however the center of the bars are nonetheless tender within the middle. The bars will proceed to agency up as they cool.

Take away the bars from the oven, and funky at room temperature for half-hour. Refrigerate for 4 hours or till agency. Minimize into bars and serve.

cranberry cheesecake bars cut into squares on a wire rack

Recipe Variations

Use leftover cranberry sauce. On this recipe I make a fast home made cranberry sauce on the stovetop, however you can simply use leftover sauce from Thanksgiving!
Gingersnap crust – You possibly can additionally swap out the graham crackers and use gingerbread cookies as a substitute like I did for my pumpkin cheesecake!
Add extra orange. I solely added it to the cranberry sauce, however you can simply add some just a few tablespoons of orange juice or orange zest into the cheesecake batter.
Use canned sauce – You possibly can additionally use a can of cranberry sauce. I might suggest complete berry cranberry sauce for some texture!

Serving Ideas

cranberry cheesecake bar on a plate with a fork

Storage Directions

You wish to retailer these cheesecake bars in an hermetic container in your fridge for as much as 4 days. For longer storage, I like to recommend freezing them.

You possibly can freeze for as much as 3 months. I prefer to wrap any bars in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and retailer in plastic bag. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving. I did discover that the crust and topping will soften barely.

Recipe FAQS

How have you learnt when cheesecake bars are set?

The perimeters of the bars ought to be set, however the center of the bars ought to have a slight wobble. The bars will proceed to arrange as they cool.

How do you chop cheesecake bars neatly?

I like to chop with a big clear knife. And ensure to wipe off the knife in between every slice so that you get a neat lower.

Why did my cheesecake bars crack?

That is most likely as a result of overmixing or overbaking. Overmixing will trigger an excessive amount of air to be integrated. The bars will puff within the oven after which collaspse after cooling inflicting crack. And overbaking may cause cracks. Take the bars out when the bar edges are set however the center is barely jiggly.

How lengthy can cheesecake bars sit out?

To be on the protected aspect, solely let the bars sit out for two hours. After that it’s finest to cowl and refrigerate them.

Can I make these in a unique pan?

I made these in a 9×9 pan because it makes fairly a little bit of batter. I don’t suggest an 8×8 pan. If that’s all you may have I might suggest not filling up the pan as a lot and putting a sheet pan beneath in case it overflows.

cranberry cheesecake bar on a plate with a forkful missing

Extra Recipes To Strive

If you’re craving extra cheesecake, then be sure you attempt straightforward no bake strawberry cream cheese pie baked in a pie plate! It’s every thing you like a few cheesecake however in a pie. No water bathtub wanted!

Within the summertime, I really like making my peach cobbler cheesecake! Made with contemporary cinnamon peaches, and a crumble topping within the center and on high of the cheesecake.

For the vanilla cheesecake layer: