Rich Praline Cream Cheese Bars
Indulge in the ultimate dessert decadence with these Rich Praline Cream Cheese Bars, a heavenly combination of buttery crust, creamy cheesecake, and luscious praline topping. Featuring a crunchy pecan-studded layer caramelized to perfection with brown sugar and heavy cream, these bars are elevated by a silky-smooth cream cheese filling that balances the sweetness. With just 20 minutes of prep and simple layering techniques, this recipe is easy to follow yet impressively gourmet. Perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, or a special treat, these bars serve up Southern-inspired comfort in every bite. Serve them chilled or at room temperature for an irresistible dessert experience that will leave everyone raving.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1.5 cups pecans, chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 unit large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.25 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of unsalted butter (softened), 2 cups of all-purpose flour, and 1/2 cup of light brown sugar. Mix until the ingredients form a crumbly dough.
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.
While the crust is cooling, make the cream cheese layer. In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture. Mix until completely combined.
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the partially baked crust, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
Next, prepare the praline topping. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter and stir in 1 cup of light brown sugar and 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring frequently, then remove from heat and stir in 1.5 cups of chopped pecans.
Carefully spoon the praline mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer, ensuring the pecans are distributed throughout.
Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are set and the topping is bubbly.
Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares or rectangles.
Serve chilled or at room temperature and enjoy the rich, praline-filled indulgence.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
5472 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 322.5 g | 413% | |
| Saturated Fat | 128.5 g | 642% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 745 mg | 248% | |
| Sodium | 932 mg | 41% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 615.3 g | 224% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 24.5 g | 88% | |
| Total Sugars | 406.5 g | ||
| Protein | 64.8 g | 130% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.0 mcg | 5% | |
| Calcium | 681 mg | 52% | |
| Iron | 19.1 mg | 106% | |
| Potassium | 1681 mg | 36% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
