Description

These festive Christmas Cheesecake Bars combine a buttery sugar cookie crust with a creamy cheesecake layer, topped with sweet cherry pie filling and crunchy almond crumble. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these bars are easy to make and deliver a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust and Topping

1 (8.5 oz) Sugar Cookie Mix
4 tbsp Butter, Cold, cubed
1/3 cup Almonds, Sliced

Cheesecake Filling

1 (8 oz) Cream Cheese, Softened
1/4 cup Sugar
1 tbsp Flour
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg

Topping

3/4 can Cherry Pie Filling (approximately 15 oz can, use about 11.25 oz)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside to prepare the crust.
Make the Crust Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix and cold, cubed butter. Use a fork to blend them together until the mixture becomes crumbly.
Press and Bake the Crust: Reserve 3/4 cup of the crumbly mixture for topping later. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then immediately place the pan in the refrigerator to cool and set quickly.
Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: While the crust is cooling, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and egg in a medium bowl. Mix until the filling is smooth and creamy without any lumps.
Spread the Cheesecake Layer: Evenly spread the cheesecake mixture over the cooled crust, covering it completely for a smooth layer.
Add the Cherry Pie Filling: Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the cheesecake layer, smoothing it gently.
Prepare and Add the Topping: Stir the sliced almonds into the reserved crumble mixture. Then sprinkle this almond crumble evenly over the cherry pie layer for a crunchy topping.
Bake the Bars: Place the assembled pan back into the oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden and the cheesecake layer is set.
Cool and Chill: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool for about 30 minutes at room temperature. Then refrigerate until the bars are cold and firm, approximately 2-3 hours, before serving.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a smooth cheesecake layer.
Press the cookie crust firmly to avoid it crumbling when served.
Use cold butter for the crust to achieve a crumbly texture.
Refrigerating the bars before serving helps them firm up and slice more cleanly.
This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
For a nut-free version, omit sliced almonds or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Desserts
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Christmas dessert, cheesecake bars, cherry pie filling, holiday sweets, sugar cookie crust, almond topping