Description
These delightful Christmas Cheesecake Bars combine a buttery sugar cookie crust, a smooth and creamy cheesecake layer, and a sweet cherry pie filling topping, all finished with crunchy sliced almonds for the perfect festive dessert. Easy to prepare and baked to perfection, these bars are an excellent holiday treat to share with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust & Topping
- 1 (8.5 oz) Sugar Cookie Mix
- 4 tbsp Butter, Cold
- 1/3 cup Almonds, Sliced
Cheesecake Layer
- 1 (8 oz) Cream Cheese, Softened
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 tbsp Flour
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 Egg
Topping
- 3/4 can Cherry Pie Filling
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with non-stick spray and set it aside to ensure easy removal of the bars later.
- Make Crust Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix and cold cubed butter. Use a fork to blend until the mixture becomes crumbly in texture.
- Form the Crust: Reserve 3/4 cup of the crumbly mixture for later use. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes to set it, then place the pan in the refrigerator to cool quickly.
- Prepare Cheesecake Filling: While the crust cools, beat softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla, and egg together in a mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Assemble Cheesecake Layer: Spread the creamy cheesecake mixture evenly over the cooled crust in the pan, making sure the crust is completely covered.
- Add Cherry Pie Filling: Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly on top of the cheesecake layer, spreading it gently for uniform coverage.
- Prepare and Add Topping: Stir the sliced almonds into the reserved crumble mixture. Sprinkle this almond crumble evenly over the cherry pie topping for a crunchy finish.
- Bake the Bars: Place the pan back into the oven and bake the assembled bars for 40 minutes until the topping is golden and the cheesecake layer is set.
- Cool and Chill: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill until the bars are cold and firm, making them easier to cut and serve.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a smooth cheesecake filling.
- Cooling the crust before adding the cheesecake layer helps prevent the layers from mixing and keeps the crust crisp.
- You can substitute cherry pie filling with other fruit pie fillings like blueberry or strawberry for variation.
- Store leftover cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Allow the bars to chill completely for clean, neat slices when cutting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cheesecake bars, cherry cheesecake bars, sugar cookie crust, holiday dessert, cheesecake dessert bars, almond topped bars
