Cheesecake Bars

Name: Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, slightly softened); 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; salt, Generous 1/4 teaspoon; 1 1/3 cups all-purpose white flour or whole wheat pastry flour; 1 8-ounce package plus one 3-ounce package cream cheese (slightly softened and cut into chunks); 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup; 1 large egg; 1 cup apple butter; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for topping)

Blue ribbon–winning square bars combining apple butter, a cream cheese layer, and a pastry crust, flavored with maple syrup.

35 min

Easy

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Ingredients

unsalted butter (1 stick, slightly softened) 1/2 cup

pure maple syrup 1/4 cup

salt Generous 1/4 teaspoon

all-purpose white flour or whole wheat pastry flour 1 1/3 cups

cream cheese (slightly softened and cut into chunks) 1 8-ounce package plus one 3-ounce package

pure maple syrup 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons

large egg 1

apple butter 1 cup

vanilla extract 2 teaspoons

ground cinnamon (for topping) 1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or coat with nonstick spray.

Prepare the Crust

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter, maple syrup, and salt until lightened and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat or stir the flour into the butter mixture just until evenly incorporated. Firmly press the dough into the pan. Lay a sheet of wax paper over the dough, then press it out to the edges until flat and smooth on top. Peel off and discard the paper. Using a fork, prick the dough all over.

Bake the Crust

Bake in the upper third of the oven for 17 to 21 minutes, or until tinged with brown at the edges. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool briefly.