Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars feature two layers of pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a sour cream topping.
Although I didn’t always think so, pumpkin and chocolate is such a great combination. Years ago in the fall, one of my labmates brought these Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars to a lab meeting. They are similar in theory to the Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, but in these bars the chocolate and the pumpkin are layered rather than swirled, and the crust is graham cracker rather than chocolate cookies. These bars also have a delicious sour cream topping, and if I remember correctly, the cheesecake layers in these bars are slightly less firm than the Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. I am happy to have both bar recipes to make during my favorite time of year!
Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars
Use gluten free graham crackers for the crust for an entirely gluten free dessert.
Looking for More Pumpkin Desserts?
Check out these other Pumpkin Desserts:
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Pumpkin Scones
Black Bottom Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites
Pumpkin Spice Magic Bar Minis
Pumpkin Spice Kiss Brownies
Pumpkin Chocolate Tart
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup butter (melted)
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (2 packages)
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut up (or 3 ounces semisweet plus 3 ounces bittersweet)
- 1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/4 cups sour cream
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Grated fresh nutmeg and/or milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate curls
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir in the 1/3 cup melted butter. Press mixture evenly into bottom of the prepared baking pan; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and the 1 3/4 cups sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt on low speed just until combined. Remove 1-1/4 cups of the mixture and set aside in a separate bowl (this mixture will have the chocolate added to it).
- In a small heavy saucepan, combine the 6 ounces chocolate, the bourbon if using, and the 2 tablespoons butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Whisk chocolate mixture into the 1 1/4 cups pumpkin mixture. Pour over crust, spreading evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Carefully pour the remaining pumpkin mixture over baked chocolate layer, spreading evenly. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes more or until filling is puffed and center is set. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine sour cream and 1/4 cup sugar. Gently spread over bars. Cool completely. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours. Cut into bars. To make triangle-shape bars, cut the cookies crosswise into four strips. Then cut each strip into five triangles (you'll end up with two half-triangles from the ends of each strip).
- Before serving, sprinkle with nutmeg and/or chocolate curls.
