Indulge in the luxurious experience of Ganache-Topped Cheesecake Bars – a truly rich and creamy homemade cheesecake dessert that effortlessly brings together the beloved flavors of classic cheesecake and decadent chocolate. These delightful bars are guaranteed to captivate both cheesecake aficionados and chocolate lovers alike, offering a sophisticated treat without the fuss.
When the craving for cheesecake strikes, but the thought of wrestling with a traditional springform pan or managing an entire full-sized dessert feels overwhelming, these exquisite Cheesecake Squares present the perfect solution. They are not only an easier alternative but also an incredibly scrumptious one, offering all the delightful layers of a classic cheesecake in a convenient, shareable bar form. Perfect for any occasion, from casual weeknight desserts to elegant gatherings, these bars promise a memorable sweet escape with every bite.
Why These Ganache-Topped Biscoff Cheesecake Bars Are a Must-Try
These aren’t just any cheesecake bars; they are a culinary revelation designed for convenience without sacrificing flavor or quality. Here’s why these Biscoff Cheesecake Bars with Ganache should be at the top of your baking list:
Portion Control and Convenience: If you’re a cheesecake enthusiast but want to avoid the temptation of a whole cheesecake, this recipe provides perfectly portioned bars. They’re individually sized, making them ideal for satisfying your sweet tooth without overindulging, and incredibly easy to serve.
Irresistible Layers of Flavor and Texture: Beyond the incredibly creamy and smooth cheesecake layer, these bars boast a unique and flavorful Biscoff cookie crust that adds a warm, spiced note. Capping it all off is a luscious, rich chocolate ganache topping, creating a symphony of textures and tastes in every bite.
Perfect for Any Gathering: Cheesecake in bar form is inherently more practical and less messy than slices of a traditional round cheesecake. This makes them effortlessly transportable and ideal for picnics, potlucks, holiday parties, or any social gathering where you want to impress with a homemade dessert.
A Unique Twist on a Classic: You’ll absolutely adore these Biscoff Cheesecake Bars for their distinctive and delightful crust. The Biscoff cookies add an unexpected caramelized depth that elevates the entire dessert, setting it apart from standard graham cracker crust cheesecakes. This unique flavor profile will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Simplified Baking Process: Forget the complexities often associated with baking a full cheesecake. This bar recipe is designed to be straightforward, allowing even novice bakers to achieve professional-looking and tasting results with ease.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cheesecake Bars
Crafting the perfect Ganache-Topped Cheesecake Bars starts with understanding the role of each ingredient. Quality and preparation are key to achieving that desired creamy texture and rich flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:
Kitchen Staples: You’ll need common pantry items like granular Sugar and Brown Sugar for sweetness and depth, all-purpose Flour to provide structure, and rich Butter for both the crust and the ganache. These foundational ingredients are essential for a balanced flavor profile.
Biscoff Cookies: The star of our unique crust! You’ll need about 1 ½ cups of crushed Biscoff cookies, which translates to roughly 27 individual cookies. These distinctive spiced shortbread cookies infuse the crust with a warm, caramelized flavor that pairs exquisitely with the creamy cheesecake. Look for them at major grocery stores like Kroger (City Market in some states), Walgreens, or Walmart.
Cream Cheese: The heart of any cheesecake. It is absolutely crucial that your Cream Cheese is at room temperature. This ensures it blends smoothly with other ingredients, preventing lumps and resulting in an incredibly silky, uniform cheesecake layer. For the richest taste and best texture, always opt for full-fat cream cheese.
Eggs: Large Eggs contribute to the cheesecake’s structure and richness. Like the cream cheese, eggs should also be at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more evenly into the batter, preventing overmixing and ensuring a tender, smooth consistency.
Sour Cream: Adding Sour Cream introduces a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of the cheesecake, enhancing its depth of flavor. It also contributes to the cheesecake’s characteristic smooth and creamy texture. Remember to take it out of the refrigerator when you retrieve your cream cheese and eggs so it can come to room temperature.
Vanilla Extract: Use only genuine Vanilla Extract. The pure, aromatic flavor of real vanilla makes a significant difference in the final taste of your cheesecake, providing warmth and complexity that artificial flavors cannot replicate.
Heavy Cream: Essential for a rich and luxurious ganache. Ensure your Heavy Cream contains at least 36% butterfat for optimal results. This high fat content allows the ganache to achieve that perfectly smooth, glossy finish and decadent texture.
Semi-sweet Chocolate: For the most superior ganache, I highly recommend using high-quality Semi-sweet Chocolate bars, such as Ghirardelli. Chocolate bars melt more smoothly and consistently than chocolate chips, which often contain stabilizers that prevent them from fully melting. While chips can work, bars yield a silkier, more professional-grade ganache.
Powdered Sugar: A touch of Powdered Sugar is used in the ganache to thicken it slightly and add a delicate sweetness, ensuring a perfectly balanced chocolate topping that complements the cheesecake.
Effortless Steps to Crafting Ganache-Topped Cheesecake Bars
Creating these delightful cheesecake bars is surprisingly straightforward, involving a few simple steps that lead to an incredibly impressive dessert. The process is designed for ease, ensuring a satisfying baking experience from start to finish!
Prepare the Biscoff Crust: Begin by combining your crushed Biscoff cookies with melted butter and a touch of brown sugar. Press this flavorful mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. This forms the delicious, spiced foundation for your cheesecake.
Create the Creamy Cheesecake Layer: Next, prepare the smooth and rich cheesecake batter. Using softened cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, mix until just combined and wonderfully creamy.
Spread and Bake: Gently spread the cheesecake batter over your prepared Biscoff crust. Bake the bars as directed in the recipe, allowing them to transform into a perfectly golden, set, and wobbly cheesecake.
Cool Completely: Patience is a virtue here! Once baked, it’s crucial to let the cheesecake bars cool completely to room temperature before proceeding. This prevents the ganache from melting and ensures a clean, stable base for your topping.
Prepare and Apply the Ganache: While the cheesecake cools, prepare your luscious chocolate ganache. Heat heavy cream and butter, then pour over semi-sweet chocolate, stirring until smooth and glossy. Once the cheesecake is cool, generously spread this decadent ganache over the top.
Chill to Perfection: For the best texture and clean slices, chill the ganache-topped bars in the refrigerator until the ganache is firm. Ideally, chill them overnight to allow all the flavors to meld beautifully and the bars to set completely.
Slice and Serve: Once thoroughly chilled, use a hot knife to slice the bars into perfect squares. Now, they are ready to be devoured! Enjoy the harmonious blend of creamy cheesecake, spiced Biscoff, and rich chocolate ganache.
Add butter to cookie crumbs.Mix to combine.Pat crumbs onto bottom of baking pan.Make cheesecake batter.Spread over crust.Bake as directed and cool before topping with chocolate ganache. Chill overnight before cutting into bars.Cut into squares and serve.
Mastering Your Biscoff Cheesecake Bars: Expert Advice
Creating a truly sensational cheesecake dessert doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a few expert tips, you can ensure your Biscoff Cheesecake Bars with Ganache are ultra-creamy, perfectly set, and utterly irresistible, leaving everyone craving a second helping!
PRO-Tip: Room Temperature Ingredients are Non-Negotiable: The golden rule for cheesecake success is to ensure all refrigerated ingredients – especially the cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream – are at true room temperature. Softened cream cheese blends seamlessly, yielding an incredibly smooth, lump-free batter. Cold ingredients will result in a lumpy texture and a denser, less delicate cheesecake.
Quickly Bring Eggs to Temperature: If you forget to take your eggs out in advance, you can quickly bring them to room temperature by placing them in a bowl of warm (not hot!) water for about 5-10 minutes.
Biscoff Cookie Alternatives: While Biscoff cookies provide a unique and delightful flavor, if you can’t find them or prefer a different base, classic graham cracker crumbs are an excellent and readily available substitute for the crust. You could also experiment with crushed vanilla wafers or even chocolate cookies for a different twist.
Sift Powdered Sugar for Smooth Ganache: To ensure your chocolate ganache is silky smooth and free of any gritty texture, always sift your powdered sugar before adding it to the mixture. This removes any lumps, guaranteeing a perfectly luscious topping.
Choose Quality Chocolate for Ganache: For the most luxurious and glossy chocolate topping, prioritize using high-quality semi-sweet chocolate bars over chocolate chips. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers that help them maintain their shape during baking, which can prevent them from melting as smoothly and creating a truly decadent ganache. Ghirardelli or similar quality baking chocolate is highly recommended.
Avoid Overmixing the Batter: When adding the eggs and sour cream to the cheesecake batter, mix only until they are just combined. Overmixing will incorporate too much air into the mixture, which can lead to cracks in your cheesecake and a less dense, compromised texture. A low to medium-low speed on your mixer is usually sufficient.
PRO-Tip: Chill Thoroughly for Clean Slices: Well-chilled cheesecake bars are far easier to cut into neat, clean squares than those at room temperature. For the smoothest possible cuts, use a sharp knife that has been dipped in hot water and wiped clean. Reheat and wipe the knife after each slice to prevent sticking and ensure pristine edges.
Don’t Overbake: Cheesecake is best when slightly wobbly in the center when removed from the oven. It will continue to set as it cools. Overbaking can lead to a dry texture and cracking.
Lining the Pan: Lining your baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper with an overhang makes lifting the entire cooled cheesecake out of the pan much easier, allowing for neat cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheesecake Bars
How Do You Slice Cheesecake Bars Neatly?
For perfectly clean and even slices, ensure your cheesecake bars are thoroughly chilled – ideally, for several hours or even overnight in the refrigerator. Use a very sharp knife that has been run under hot water, then wiped completely dry. The heat from the knife will help it glide through the ganache and cheesecake without dragging. Wipe the knife clean and reheat it between each slice for the best results, preventing any sticking or messy edges.
How Do You Store Cheesecake Bars?
To maintain their freshness and creamy texture, keep your cheesecake bars covered tightly in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will remain delicious for 3-4 days. For optimal flavor and a creamier texture, it’s best to bring them out of the refrigerator for about an hour before serving to allow them to lose their chill. While delicious cold, they truly shine when closer to room temperature. These bars also freeze beautifully! Place them in a single layer in an airtight freezer-safe container or wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
How Do You Serve Cheesecake Bars?
These ganache-topped cheesecake bars are undeniably stunning and delicious on their own, requiring no embellishment. However, if you wish to elevate them further, consider adding a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a scattering of vibrant fresh berries (like raspberries or strawberries), or a luscious berry sauce. A drizzle of rich caramel sauce would also create a delightful flavor contrast, adding another layer of indulgence to this already magnificent dessert.
Can I use a different type of cookie for the crust?
Absolutely! While Biscoff cookies provide a unique spiced flavor, you can easily substitute them with other crumbly cookies. Graham cracker crumbs are a classic choice and always a winner. You could also try vanilla wafers, shortbread cookies, or even Oreo crumbs for a chocolatey twist. Just ensure the quantity of crumbs and butter remains consistent to achieve the right crust consistency.
Explore More Delicious Bar Recipes:
Scrumptious Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Irresistible Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
Decadent Ganache Topped Truffle Brownies
Comforting Oatmeal Caramel Bars
Stay connected and be the first to discover new recipes! Follow us on social media @ Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag us when you try one of our recipes! And if you absolutely love the results, please consider giving it a 5-star rating in the recipe card below – your feedback helps us grow!
The Recipe:
Ganache Topped Cheesecake Bars
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour5 minutes
Yield 24 servings
An incredibly easy recipe that delivers all the rich deliciousness of a traditional cheesecake in convenient bar form! This recipe is adapted from Bakerella via Hugs & Cookies XOXO.
Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (based on 29 reviews)
Ingredients
For the Biscoff Crust:
1 ½ cups crushed Biscoff Cookies (approximately 27 cookies – commonly found at Walgreens and Walmart)
8 ounces heavy whipping cream (minimum 36% butterfat)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (high-quality bars like Ghirardelli are recommended for best melting)
¼ cup powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
Prepare the Crust: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed Biscoff cookie crumbs and brown sugar. Pour in the melted butter and stir thoroughly until the mixture is uniformly combined and resembles wet sand.
Form the Crust: Press the cookie crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan that has been lined with non-stick foil, leaving an overhang on the sides to aid removal later.
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325ºF (160ºC).
Prepare Cheesecake Batter – Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and flour until the mixture is light, fluffy, and completely smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Prepare Cheesecake Batter – Step 2: Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing only until each egg is just combined into the batter. Do not overmix.
Prepare Cheesecake Batter – Step 3: Gently fold in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined and the batter is uniform. Avoid overmixing to keep the cheesecake light and creamy.
Bake the Cheesecake: Pour the prepared cheesecake batter over the cookie crust in the baking pan. Carefully transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center has a slight wobble when gently shaken.
Cool the Cheesecake: Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack to room temperature. This is a crucial step before adding the ganache.
Prepare the Ganache: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, or in a microwave-safe bowl, gently heat the heavy cream and butter until the butter is melted and the mixture is hot, but do not allow it to boil.
Combine Ganache Ingredients: Remove the hot cream mixture from the heat and pour it over the chopped semi-sweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then stir gently until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Add the sifted powdered sugar and whisk until fully incorporated and the ganache is a perfect consistency.
Top and Chill: Pour the warm ganache evenly over the completely cooled cheesecake layer. Carefully spread it to the edges. Transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill overnight (or for at least 4-6 hours) until the ganache is fully set and firm.
Slice and Serve: Once thoroughly chilled, use the foil overhangs to lift the cheesecake out of the pan. Place on a cutting board. Heat a sharp knife under hot water, wipe it dry, then slice the cheesecake into desired bar sizes. Clean and reheat the knife after each cut for the cleanest slices. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
For the absolute best taste and texture, take your cheesecake bars out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to serve them. Allowing them to come closer to room temperature will enhance their creaminess and bring out the full depth of their flavors, creating a truly melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
