Looking for an easy dessert to round out your Halloween dinner party? These Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars are delicious and surprisingly easy to make and decorate. These cheesecake bars have two lovely layers, including an Oreo cookie crust and creamy pumpkin-cheesecake layer. They are full of classic warming fall spices and are sure to impress at any holiday get-together.
To make these, pulse the Oreo cookies into crumbs. Add in melted butter and pulse again to combine. Press the crust into a baking dish. While the crust bakes, make the pumpkin-cheesecake filling. Pour the filling onto the cooled crust and bake until the filling is set at the edges yet still jiggly in the center. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Actually, these cheesecake bars are great for any fall occasion. But once you add cute cream ghosts on top, they transform into a sweet Halloween dessert.
To make the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 350 °F and line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil. Spray with cooking spray.
In a food processor, place 20 cookies and process until you have fine crumbs. Add in 2 ½ tablespoons melted butter and pulse a few times until combined. Press into the prepared baking dish.
Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a mixer on medium speed, beat 2 (8-oz) packages of cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Beat in 1 cup pumpkin purée, then add 3 eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and ¼ teaspoon salt, just until combined.
Place the baking dish with the cooled crust on top of a rimmed baking sheet. Gently pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust.
Place in the oven and carefully pour water onto the rimmed baking sheet until it is nearly filled. Bake the cheesecake for about 45 minutes or until set at the edges but barely jiggly in the center.
Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to a fridge for at least 3 hours or until firm. Once firm, slice into 16 bars.
Place the whipped cream in a piping bag with a large round tip or ziplock bag with a cut-off corner. Pipe the cream onto the individual bars to create ghosts and place mini chocolate chips for the eyes.
Serve and enjoy!
These adorable Halloween Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars are a sweet, simple, and delicious treat with ghostly swirls of whipped cream. Try making a batch and please come back to tell us what you think. And don’t forget to tag us @cookmerecipes in your baking posts on Instagram!
