Marbled Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake Bars Recipes

MARBLED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BARS WITH A GINGERSNAP CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Line bottom and sides of a 9"x13" baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set aside.
• CRUST: Blend cookies, sugar, and cinnamon in a food processor until finely ground; add pecans and butter and combine. Transfer crumb mixture to prepared pan, and press gently into bottom. Bake until fragrant and slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes.
• PUMPKIN BATTER: In a medium bowl stir together pumpkin, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until combined; set aside.
• CREAM CHEESE BATTER: In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla, beating until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating at low speed after each addition just until combined.
• Stir 1/3 of the cream cheese batter (about 1 1/2 cups) into the pumpkin batter until smooth. Pour remaining cream cheese batter over crust.
• Place large spoonfuls of pumpkin batter randomly over cream cheese batter. Using the tip of a table knife or a thin metal spatula, gently swirl the two batters together. This should have a marbled look.
• Bake for 25 to 30 or until center is just set.
• Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours before lifting out of pan and cutting into squares or bars. Store any remaining bars in the refrigerator.

MARBLED PUMPKIN-MAPLE CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Crust:
• Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Lightly butter a 13x9x2" metal baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on long sides, then butter parchment. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until fine crumbs form (you should have a generous 2 cups). Add sugar and salt and pulse just to combine. Add ½ cup butter and pulse until mixture is the consistency of wet sand.
• Transfer crumbs to prepared pan and press firmly into bottom with a measuring cup. Bake crust until fragrant and edges are just starting to take on color, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
• Cheesecake and Assembly:
• Reduce oven temperature to 275°F. Beat cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat on low speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until incorporated. Add sour cream and maple syrup and beat until mixture is thick and creamy and no lumps remain. Scoop ¾ cup filling into a small bowl and save for marbling later. Add pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger to remaining batter and beat until no streaks remain. Remove bowl from mixer and tap on counter several times to force any air bubbles to the filling's surface. Scrape filling into cooled crust; pop any air bubbles. Dollop reserved filling over pumpkin filling and swirl with a skewer or toothpick to marble.
• Bake cheesecake until edges are set but center still wobbles slightly when gently shaken (it will firm as it cools), 40-50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack on stovetop and let cool (the warmth from the cooling oven will help it come to room temperature more slowly, keeping the top from cracking), about 3 hours.
• Chill cheesecake until cold and firm, 3-4 hours. Cut into bars or squares to serve.
• Do Ahead: Cheesecake can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.