Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Bars Recipe Recipe Cards

CARAMEL PECAN CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Line 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan.
• Remove 1/2 cup of the pecans; set aside.
• Finely chop remaining pecans.
• Mix wafer crumbs, chopped pecans and butter.
• Press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• Add sour cream, flour and vanilla; mix well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended.
• Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 minute or until center is almost set.
• Cool completely.
• Place caramels in microwaveable bowl.
• Add water.
• Microwave on HIGH 1 minute or until caramels are completely melted when stirred.
• Pour over cheesecake; top with the reserved pecans.
• Melt chocolate as directed on package; drizzle over cheesecake.
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Use foil handles to remove cheesecake from pan before cutting into pieces to serve.
• Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

CARAMEL CHEESECAKE BARS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter.
• Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• In another mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Add sour cream and mix again until smooth.
• Pour cream cheese mixture over prepared crust, smooth top and bake for 50 minutes.
• Turn off the oven, open the door and let the cheesecake sit in the warm oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and let cool for an hour.
• Combine brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir continuously until the butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
• Whisk in condensed milk, corn syrup and vanilla and bring to a boil, stirring continuously.
• Place a candy thermometer in the caramel mixture and continue to boil until the caramel reaches 225 degrees F (or reaches soft ball stage if you don't have a thermometer. That means that when you drop a bit of it into cold water to cool it down, it will form a soft ball.).
• Let caramel cool in the pan for 3-5 minutes, then pour over cheesecake.
• Smooth and let set until cool.
• Cut into squares and serve.

PRALINE CRUMB CARAMEL CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. Place cookie mix in bowl; cut in butter using pastry blender or fork until mixture is crumbly, then stir in pecans and toffee bits by hand. Reserve 1 1/2 cups mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes and remove to a rack to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, 1/4 cup of the caramel topping, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked cookie base. Sprinkle with reserved crumb topping, pecans and toffee bits.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup caramel topping. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator until serving.