chai spice cheesecake bars
This post is sponsored by Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
If nothing brings you greater satisfaction than sipping a chai spice latte on a chilly December morning, these cheesecake bars are for you. Those cozy drinks are the inspiration behind my layered bars with a buttery graham crust, chai spice cheesecake filling, and swirls of chocolate for decadence.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese makes these cheesecake bars exceptionally creamy. It’s made with fresh milk and real cream, and it’s preservative free! These effortless bars are the ultimate holiday dessert, portable and perfect for sharing or entertaining – a must-make dessert bar for any chai or cheesecake lover. Serve them on a sparkling platter for Christmas (or even New Year’s Eve).
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup graham flour
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Filling
- 3 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 8 oz
Philadelphia Cream Cheese, at room temperature - 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. For the crust, whisk together flour, graham flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Combine melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add flour mixture and fold in until incorporated. Use a piece of parchment paper lightly coated with nonstick spray to press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake crust for 18 minutes, until golden and set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, and reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
- Place chocolate in a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally until glossy and smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Place cream cheese and yogurt in a food processor and process until combined. Add sugar, spices, salt, and egg; process until smooth. Spoon cream cheese mixture over cooled crust and spread evenly. Dollop cooled chocolate by teaspoons over cream cheese layer and swirl together with a toothpick or wooden skewer; gently tap pan once to remove air bubbles.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack; cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 3 hours. Just before cutting, chill in the freezer for 15 minutes. Carefully lift parchment and place bars on a cutting board; use a sharp knife to trim away raised edges, then cut into bars. Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Calories: 270
- Carbohydrates: 30
19 comments
Those swirls of chocolate are beyond perfect!
Just beautiful Laura! Love those swirls!
These are a work of art Laura! So pretty and they sound like winner for all ages.
What a beautiful dessert, and the chai spices make it so special — I love Philadelphia Cream Cheese!
My son’s favorite dessert is cheesecake. This is a perfect holiday dessert to share with him!
Yes, yes, yes! xxx
I do love my chai spices (must have a chai latte everyday!) – Luv what you’ve done with these bars, Laura! 😉
Gorgeous swirls! I’d never use any other brand for my cheesecakes—and I have enough in the fridge to make these gorgeous bars!
Every time I visit Costco I stock up on Philly cream cheese. It comes in a heap of boxes and right into the fridge. I love it and I’ve got some to make these beautiful chai spice cheesecake bars. They look delicious!
Yum! These bars look and sound amazing!
I love that you’re already thinking about our NYE and what to serve Laura! 😀 I’m mad for chai, I don’t drink coffee (although I cook with it) but I love chai.
Oh my this looks delicious! I love cheesecake and I love chai, these sound like a match made in heaven. Philiadelphia is one of my favourite cream cheeses as well.
I’ve never had a cheesecake bar – I think I need to rectify that!
Beautiful photos, Laura! LOVE the chai + cheesecake flavor blend here. XO <3
Beautiful Laura! I love anything cheesecake 🙂
This is brilliant. Totally, totally brilliant. 5, please!
Scrumptious! Love the artistic swirl!!
Gorgeous, I love those swirls! (Needless to say, I love the flavors too!)
Can these be frozen and then thawed in the fridge?
Hi Emma, yes the bars freeze well. I wrap them individually and then pop them into a freezer bag.