Hold the phone; these pecan pie cheesecake bars are now officially my favorite dessert of all time! I mean, we’re talking about a graham cracker crust scented with cinnamon and a hint of sugar that we topped with a creamy, dreamy cheesecake filling and the top layer is a pecan pie filling. I’ve never met a cheesecake I didn’t love, but these pecan pie cheesecake bars take my obsession to a whole new level! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tested this recipe. I mean, last I remember I went through about 8 pounds of cheesecake and more than sixteen sticks of butter! But every little of it was worth it. Nevermind the fact that I have enough pecan pie cheesecake bars in the freezer to feed the entire neighborhood. I am not complaining!
Can I tell you a secret? I meant to get these pecan pie cheesecake bars out to you in time for you to make for your Thanksgiving spread. But I wanted to be absolutely sure that the caramel layer would set, so instead of prematurely sharing the recipe, I went ahead and tested it one more time with a bit of tweaking to make sure the bars hold. So if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas dessert, these pecan pie cheesecake bars are it. A nice change of pace from the traditional pecan pie, that’s for sure! Moving along, how many ways are there to make a cheesecake? I don’t know, but please don’t mind if I decide to try them all out. I’ve tried making a small cheesecake in the instant pot. I’ve made cheesecake stuffed sopapilla bars, blueberry cheesecake french toast happened, and I even managed to make chai cheesecake muffins! But I’ll tell you this much; this is most definitely not the last time I make a cheesecake dessert recipe. I’m already planning on other ways to make a cheesecake!
What do you need to make the cheesecake portion of the pecan pie cheesecake bars?
graham cracker crumbs granulated sugar ground cinnamon butter cream cheese eggs + yolks sour cream vanilla extract
What goes int he pecan pie layer of these cheesecake bars?
salted butter corn syrup brown sugar heavy cream vanilla extract pecans
How to make the best pecan pie cheesecake bars:
How far in advance can I make pecan pie cheesecake bars?
The thing I love most about this recipe is that you can make these pecan pie cheesecake bars up to 4 days in advance. I find that cheesecake most often tastes better the day after it was made, so this is the ideal make-ahead dessert recipe!
How long will these pecan cheesecake bars last?
I mean, if you have any left, you can store them covered in the refrigerator for up to one week. But I highly doubt you’ll have nay for that long!
How do I ensure I get clean cuts?
To make clean cuts, I suggest using a very sharp knife and wiping the blade on a piece of paper towel in between cuts.
Can I freeze these bars?
Yes, you can! We have a large batch stored in the freezer, and when you’re ready to eat, you can do a quick 15-20 second zap in the microwave or allow them to defrost in the refrigerator overnight! These pecan pie cheesecake bars are super low maintenance! I really hope you won’t let this year go by without trying my favorite dessert – seriously though, and this is by far the best dessert I’ve ever made!
Bars are best when removed from the refrigerator about 15-20 minutes before serving. The pecan pie mixture softens a bit and is much easier to break with a fork!
