Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Sweet Treats
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 dozen bars
 
Ingredients
  • Crust
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Filling
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup half & half or light cream
  • 2 (8-oz) packages plain cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ vanilla bean or 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (8x8 will also work if you like thicker bars).
  2. Begin by making the crust. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until smooth and fluffy. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into prepared pan and bake for 15-17 minutes.
  3. While the crust bakes, combine sugar, half & half and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Add in eggs one at a time, waiting until each in incorporated before adding the next. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixture (or add extract) and add the flour. Pulse until smooth.
  4. Pour the filling over the hot crust when it has finished baking. Return pan to oven and bake for 23-26 minutes, until the filling is set (baking time should be reduced slightly if using a 9×13-inch, as the filling will be slightly thinner) and not jiggly.
  5. Cool completely before slicing (don’t be alarmed if the cheesecake appears to deflate somewhat as it cools), or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe by In Good Taste at http://ingoodtaste.kitchen/vanilla-bean-cheesecake-bars/