Orange Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

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Swirled with a tangy cranberry sauce and loaded with tons of orange flavor, these orange cranberry cheesecake bars are easy to make and a standout on any holiday table!

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 237kcal

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
1-1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Cheesecake Filling

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon 2% or skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Cranberry Sauce Swirl

1 cup fresh or frozen (and thawed) cranberries
1/4 cup honey or agave nectar
1/4 cup orange juice

Instructions

Graham Cracker Crust

Preheat oven to 350F. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar, tossing until crumbly.
Press crumb mixture in the bottom and a little ways up the sides of a glass 8x8 baking dish. Bake crust at 350F 10-12 minutes until a light golden brown. Set aside to cool. Reduce oven heat to 325F.

Cheesecake Filling

In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar together 1-2 minutes until completely creamy.
Beat in orange zest, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until filling is completely smooth. Pour filling over cooled crust. Set aside for a moment.

Cranberry Sauce Swirl

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring cranberries, honey, and orange juice to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until cranberries have popped and reduced to a thick sauce. Remove from heat and cool slightly
Drop cranberry sauce by the spoonful on top of filling and use a knife to gently swirl into cheesecake filling.
Bake cheesecake bars at 325F 20-25 minutes until cheesecake is lightly golden, but still slightly jiggly in the center. Allow bars to cool completely on a wire cooling rack, then transfer to fridge to chill 2 hours until completely cold.
When ready to serve, cut cheesecake into squares and serve cold. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing Instructions

Store cheesecake bars in refrigerator up to 6 days. For best results, do not freeze bars.

Nutrition