Maple Cheesecake Bars With Maple Short Crust Recipes

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.

MAPLE CHEESECAKE BARS WITH MAPLE SHORT-CRUST

Steps:

• For Maple Short Crust:.
• Cream butter. Continue to beat, gradually add the maple syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and salt, blend.
• For the cheesecake:.
• Preheat oven 400 degrees. Press Rich Maple Short Crust into 9x13 pan with floured hands.
• Pour melted chocolate over crust, set aside.
• Beat cream cheese until light.
• Beat in sour cream and then eggs one at a time.
• Gradually beat in maple syrup followed by vanilla and lemon juice.
• Slowly pour cheese mixture over chocolate. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven 350 and bake 30 minutes longer.
• Cool on wire rack, cover, chill before cutting into bars.