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Festive Creamy Sugar Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Close-up of a slice of sugar cookie cheesecake bars topped with colorful sprinkles.
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Make creamy cheesecake bars with a buttery sugar cookie crust and a festive vanilla filling. These bars are simple to serve at gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sprinkles (optional, for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. Prepare the sugar cookie base: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup of sugar until creamy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form a soft dough.
  4. Press two-thirds of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the remaining one-third of the dough.
  5. Prepare the cheesecake filling: Beat the softened cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream and 2 eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
  6. Pour the cheesecake filling over the cookie crust in the pan.
  7. Crumble the reserved one-third of the cookie dough evenly over the top of the cheesecake filling. Sprinkle with optional festive sprinkles.
  8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center has only a slight jiggle.
  9. Let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before lifting out by the parchment overhang and cutting into bars.

Notes

  • For the best texture, ensure your cream cheese and butter are fully softened to room temperature before mixing.
  • If you prefer a more pronounced cookie flavor, you can bake the crust layer for 10 minutes before adding the filling.
  • Chill the bars thoroughly; this makes clean slicing much easier.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://sundayflavor.com/sugar-cookie-cheesecake-recipe/