Description
Rich and creamy cheesecake bars with a buttery graham crust and a luscious dulce de leche swirl — simple, elegant, and irresistibly smooth.
Ingredients
Scale
- (Makes 12–16 bars)
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Dulce De Leche Swirl
- ½ cup dulce de leche (store-bought or homemade)
- 💡 Optional: Add a pinch of sea salt to balance sweetness.
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
- Make the Crust: Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Press firmly into the pan’s bottom. Bake for 8 minutes, then cool slightly.
- Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until creamy (1–2 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, mixing just until incorporated. Add sour cream, vanilla, and salt. Mix until smooth.
- Assemble the Bars: Pour cheesecake batter over the cooled crust. Warm dulce de leche slightly (microwave 10 seconds) and drizzle over the top. Use a knife to swirl lightly — don’t overmix.
- Bake: Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly. Cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Slice & Serve: Lift bars out with parchment, slice into squares, and serve chilled. Each bite combines creamy cheesecake and rich caramel sweetness.
Notes
For perfect clean cuts, chill the bars well and use a sharp knife wiped clean between slices. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 85mg