Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
Perfect for springtime gatherings, this mashup dessert starts with a spiced shortbread crust, continues with a carrot juice curd filling that tastes just like carrot cake and finishes with a no-bake cheesecake on top. These colorful, layered bars are topped off with a quick walnut crumble made right in the microwave!
Prep time:
Cook time:
Serving size: 16
Calories per serving: 212
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Serving size: 16
Calories per serving: 212
Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook’s Note)?
1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, diced?
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar?
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon?
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt?
1 large egg
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
4 large eggs plus 1 yolk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch of kosher salt
2/3 cup carrots juic
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts?
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar?
2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats?
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon?
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream
12 ounces cream cheese, softened, such as Philadelphia cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar?
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon sour cream?
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
For the crust: Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides.
Add the flour, butter, confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon and salt to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size pieces. Add the egg and 1 tablespoon cold water and pulse until the dough comes together.
Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and prick all over with a fork. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. ?
For the carrot juice curd filling: While the crust is baking, whisk the granulated sugar, confectioners’ sugar, whole eggs and yolk in a large bowl until smooth and combined. Whisk in the flour and salt, then the carrot juice; whisk until thoroughly combined. While the crust is still hot, pour the curd over it. ?
Return the pan to the oven and bake until the curd is set (a small part in the center may still be a little jiggly) and looks relatively dry on top, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on a rack, about 30 minutes, then transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 30 minutes.??
For the walnut crumble: Meanwhile, microwave the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the walnuts, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and salt. Microwave until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool in the bowl until the crumble is firm, about 30 minutes. Cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature until ready to use.?
For the no-bake cheesecake: Once the curd filling is chilled, whip the heavy cream in a medium bowl with a whisk until stiff, fluffy peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes (or 1 to 2 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed); set aside.??
Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium low, add the lemon juice, sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a large rubber spatula.??
Pour the batter on top of the curd filling and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Cover tightly and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours.??
Just before serving, cut into squares, sprinkle the walnut crumble on top and serve cold.
Notes:
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
Source: foodnetwork.com
Add the flour, butter, confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon and salt to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size pieces. Add the egg and 1 tablespoon cold water and pulse until the dough comes together.
Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and prick all over with a fork. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. ?
For the carrot juice curd filling: While the crust is baking, whisk the granulated sugar, confectioners’ sugar, whole eggs and yolk in a large bowl until smooth and combined. Whisk in the flour and salt, then the carrot juice; whisk until thoroughly combined. While the crust is still hot, pour the curd over it. ?
Return the pan to the oven and bake until the curd is set (a small part in the center may still be a little jiggly) and looks relatively dry on top, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly on a rack, about 30 minutes, then transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 30 minutes.??
For the walnut crumble: Meanwhile, microwave the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the walnuts, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon and salt. Microwave until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool in the bowl until the crumble is firm, about 30 minutes. Cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature until ready to use.?
For the no-bake cheesecake: Once the curd filling is chilled, whip the heavy cream in a medium bowl with a whisk until stiff, fluffy peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes (or 1 to 2 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed); set aside.??
Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium low, add the lemon juice, sour cream and vanilla and beat until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a large rubber spatula.??
Pour the batter on top of the curd filling and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Cover tightly and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours.??
Just before serving, cut into squares, sprinkle the walnut crumble on top and serve cold.
Notes:
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
Source: foodnetwork.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
