Apricot Cheesecake Bars

(116)
med105744_0710_des004c.jpg
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Yield:
24

Fresh apricot compote is swirled with cheesecake filling in this hand-held dessert. It's easy to make pretty decorative patterns. Try shallow back-and-forth motions, figure eights, and loose spirals.

Ingredients

  • 18 graham crackers

  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

  • Coarse salt

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

  • 10 ounces apricots (about 4), halved, pitted, and cut into eighths

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

  • ½ cup sour cream, room temperature

  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, process graham crackers, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in melted butter until crumbs are moistened. Wipe processor bowl clean. With a flat-bottomed 1-cup measure or glass, press crumbs evenly into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake until crust is firm, 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325 degrees.

  2. In a small saucepan, bring apricots, 1/4 cup sugar, and pinch of salt to a boil over medium-high, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is shiny, 10 minutes. In food processor, puree apricot mixture, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon water.

  3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sour cream on medium until smooth. Add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until smooth. Add vanilla and pinch of salt and beat to combine. Add eggs and beat until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed. Pour cream-cheese mixture into cooled crust and smooth top.

  4. Randomly drop small spoonfuls apricot puree on cream-cheese mixture. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, gently swirl puree. Bake just until set, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan on rack, then refrigerate until chilled and firm before cutting into squares, 2 hours.

Variations

Change it up: Substitute 3/4 cup strained jam for the apricot mixture -- we like blueberry.

Related Articles