Description
Creamy, spiced, and easy to slice—these pumpkin cheesecake bars are everything you want in a fall dessert. They start with a buttery graham cracker crust and finish with silky smooth pumpkin cheesecake. Perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime you’re craving pumpkin pie and cheesecake in one bite.
Ingredients
**For the Graham Cracker Crust:**
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup butter (salted or unsalted), melted
3 tbsp granulated sugar
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
**For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling:**
16 oz full-fat cream cheese (2 x 8oz bars), softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling), room temp
3 large eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp all-purpose flour, sifted
**Optional Toppings:**
Whipped cream
Caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon, granulated sugar, salt, and melted butter.
3. Press mixture evenly into an 8×8 inch parchment-lined pan.
4. Bake crust for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temp to 325°F.
5. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
6. Mix in pumpkin puree and vanilla extract.
7. Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed until just combined.
8. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and sifted flour. Mix gently until smooth.
9. Pour cheesecake filling over the baked crust.
10. Place a glass baking dish with hot water on the lower oven rack.
11. Bake for 45–50 minutes, until edges are set and center slightly jiggles.
12. Turn off oven, crack door, and cool bars inside for 30 minutes.
13. Cool completely at room temperature.
14. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
15. Slice and serve plain or with toppings.
Notes
To prevent cracks, use the hot water dish technique instead of a full water bath.
Use room temperature ingredients for the creamiest texture.
Bars can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge.
To freeze, wrap whole or sliced bars in plastic and foil. Thaw in fridge overnight before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Thanksgiving Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg