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King Cake Cheesecake Bars

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King Cake Cheesecake Bars

These King Cake Cheesecake Bars have all the flavors of classic King Cake, but in cheesecake bar form! The graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and date cinnamon swirl make a delicious and snackable dessert with less added sugar, plus a boost of fiber and protein fora healthier take on this indulgent Mardi Gras dessert!

Recipe by Amy Davis

Ingredients

  • Crust
  • 5 Natural Delights Pitted Medjool dates
  • 2 sleeves Graham Crackers (18-20 full sheets), slightly broken apart
  • 6 TBSP melted butter
  • Cheesecake Filling
  • 1 cup whipped cream cheese
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 TBSP vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • Cinnamon Date Caramel
  • 10 Natural Delights Medjool dates
  • 4 TBSP warm water
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Frosting & Assembly
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 TBSP water
  • Purple, green, and gold sprinkles for decorating

Find "12 oz Organic Medjool Dates" in a Store

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on all sides.
  2. To a blender or food processor, add graham crackers, butter, and dates. Blend until the mixture has the texture of sand.
  3. Add mixture to the baking dish and use the bottom of a glass to press the mixture evenly into the dish, forming the crust. Bake for 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, make the cheesecake filling. To a blender or food processor, add cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, vanilla, eggs, and salt. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
  5. Make the cinnamon date caramel by blending together dates, water, and cinnamon until smooth. Add caramel to a plastic bag, and cut the tip off for piping.
  6. Pour cheesecake filling mixture over the crust. Then, pipe the date caramel over the cheesecake filling, then use a knife to gently swirl the date caramel into the filling. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then refrigerate until cold, about 15 minutes.
  7. In a small bowl, mix confectioners’ sugar with 1-2 tablespoons warm water. Pour over cheesecake, then spread evenly over bars. Generously top with sprinkles, separating each color on a diagonal.
  8. Refrigerate bars until set, at least 4 hours, up to 24.
  9. Using parchment overhang, lift out bars and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 squares. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

*While Medjool dates are high in natural sugars, they are low on the glycemic index thanks to a balanced amount of soluble fiber. The complex carbohydrates found in Medjool dates are digested at a slower rate, making them a source of dietary fiber and releasing energy to the body over a longer period of time.

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