Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Pretzel Crust.
These pumpkin cheesecake bars are such a delicious fall dessert! Creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling that has a salty chocolate pretzel crust is absolutely delicious. Sweet, salty and tastes like autumn!
I’m here to introduce you to the pumpkin chocolate combo!
These pumpkin cheesecake bars are a delicious dessert that you can make for Thanksgiving. Creamy pumpkin cheesecake on top of a salty chocolate crust? Sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy, all topped with a fresh whipped cream cloud?
Sign me up.
First, this pretzel crust in sunshine has become my whole personality. Butter, salty, pretzels, chocolate!
Could eat that with a spoon.
Here’s how I feel about dessert on Thanksgiving: I want a bite (or three) of pumpkin treats. Like a pumpkin cheesecake bite or pumpkin pie, maybe even a pumpkin roll.
But what I really want? Chocolate.
There is something so wonderful about having a chocolate dessert after a Thanksgiving meal, when you expect pumpkin but don’t necessarily want any more harvest flavors.
That’s my stance and I’m standing by it!
So combining pumpkin and chocolate is what I LOVE to do. And it’s not a new thing. I’ve made a chocolate bottomed pumpkin pie and these gooey pumpkin bars are just delish. Both have chocolate and made me fall in love with the combo!
On the holiday, we have a big dessert spread and it’s one of my favorite parts of the celebration. All sorts of treats so everyone can have a little tasting plate! It’s fabulous.
This dessert is one that you need to prepare ahead of time, which makes it easier on you. You can make this a day or two ahead of time (even up to three days!), and it needs about six hours to chill in the fridge. While that time is required so the bars can set up, it’s all hands-off time! Make it, throw it in the fridge and forget it.
At least until it’s time to eat.
Cheesecake is my #1 dessert, so pumpkin cheesecake is very, very high up there. I love how tangy and creamy cheesecake is.
This is very easy and pretty much foolproof, as long as you don’t over beat the filling mixture.
The crust of these bars is SO delicious. Think dark chocolate + salty pretzels, pressed together until super crunchy. I live for a chocolate covered pretzel so it kind of reminds me of that. Delicious! Texture, flavor and a perfect base for creamy cheesecake.
I like fresh whipped cream on top – unsweetened – because it cuts the sweetness a bit. A sprinkle of pumpkin spice finishes things off. Look at that perfect bite!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Pretzel Crust
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Pretzel Crust
Ingredients
pretzel crust
- 2 ½ cups crushed pretzels
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 cup melted butter
pumpkin cheesecake
- 3 (8 ounce blocks) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup of pumpkin puree
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- fresh whipped cream, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick spray.
- In a bowl, stir together the crushed pretzels, sugar and cocoa powder. Add in the melted butter and mix until fully combined. Press the crust into the prepared pan.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, make the filling. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until creamy and smooth.
- Add in the sugar and beat until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until each is just incorporated. Add in the pumpkin, sour cream and vanilla extract until just combined, being sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl. Beat in the salt and pumpkin pie spice. Do not over beat!
- Pour the filling on top of the baked crust. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the center is no longer fully jiggly - a little bit of movement is okay.
- Remove the pan and let it cool completely. Cover it and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours or even overnight.
- Slice the bars into squares. Top with fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Thanksgiving just got so much better.
