Indulge in the ultimate dessert mashup with these decadent Pecan Cheesecake Bars. Featuring a sweet, buttery sugar cookie crust, a velvety cream cheese center, and a spectacular topping of crunchy pecans, toffee bits, and gooey caramel drizzle, these bars are a true showstopper. They offer a delightful combination of textures in every bite. Perfect for holiday dessert tables, autumn gatherings, or a sweet weekend treat, these bars deliver all the rich, comforting flavors of a classic Southern pecan pie combined with the elegance of a baked cheesecake. Get ready to bake a crowd-pleasing favorite that everyone will rave about!
Here’s a look at the ingredients you’ll need to make these irresistible Pecan Cheesecake Bars.
Betty Crocker™ Sugar Cookie Mix: This convenient pouch provides a sweet, buttery shortcut for both the crust and the toffee-pecan crumb topping without measuring dry ingredients.
Cream Cheese: Use standard 8-ounce packages of full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature, to ensure a rich, velvety, and completely lump-free cheesecake layer.
Chopped Pecans: Earthy and buttery, chopped pecans are essential for providing that classic, crunchy texture on top of the bars.
Caramel Topping: A rich, sweet caramel ice cream topping is drizzled over the baked bars to tie all the decadent flavors together.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Cold butter, sugar, toffee bits, vanilla and an egg.
Here are our favorite tips for making the best Pecan Cheesecake Bars. Follow the recipe for all the specifics.
Cut the cold butter into the sugar cookie mix until crumbly. Press about half of this mixture firmly into the bottom of the sprayed pan and bake until light golden brown.
Beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, flour, half the caramel topping, vanilla, and egg with an electric mixer until completely smooth and creamy. Spread this mixture evenly over the partially baked crust.
Sprinkle the remaining cookie mix crumbs over the cream cheese layer, then top with the pecans and toffee bits to create the crunchy crumb topping.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and center is set. Cool 30 minutes at room temperature then refrigerate for 2 hours or until completely chilled. Drizzle with remaining caramel topping before slicing.
Use these great tips for storing baked Pecan Cheesecake Bars.
Because these bars feature a rich cream cheese layer, they should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours for food safety.
Store the bars in an airtight food-storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
For best results, freeze the bars before adding the caramel drizzle. Wrap bars tightly in aluminum foil, then place them in a resealable freezer bag or airtight freezer container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw bars overnight in the refrigerator. Drizzle with caramel topping before serving.
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, cut butter into cookie mix using a pastry blender or fork until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture for the topping. Press remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, 1/4 cup of the caramel topping, vanilla, and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked cookie base. Sprinkle with reserved crumb topping, pecans and toffee bits.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup caramel topping. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
Be sure to use cold butter when cutting it into the sugar cookie mix. Cold butter is essential for creating a "just right" streusel and crust texture. If the butter is too warm or softened, the mixture will turn into a soft dough rather than forming those distinct, buttery streusel crumbs.
Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before making the filling, allowing it to soften and warm up. Or, to quickly soften cream cheese, remove it from the wrapper and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave uncovered on High for about 10 to 15 seconds or just until softened.
For a beautiful presentation, drizzle the caramel topping over the bars just before serving. If you drizzle the caramel too far in advance, it can sink into the crumb topping rather than sitting beautifully on top.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 27% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | ½g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 125mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 21g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 15g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Potassium | 40mg | 1% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
