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    Ask Chef Dennis » Recipes » Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a Pecan Shortbread Crust

    Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a Pecan Shortbread Crust

    Published: May 13, 2021 · Modified: Jun 7, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley · 38 Comments·This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    4.55 from 20 votes
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    pinterest image for chocolate cheesecake bars

    Cheesecake is one of those desserts that can turn a bad day into a good day. And when you start creating deliciousness like my Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a Pecan Shortbread Crust it becomes a very good day!

    Updated from the original post April 14, 2013

    slices of chocolate cheesecake bars on a white counter

    Over the years I’ve made countless styles and variations of cheesecakes, because quite frankly, I enjoy eating.

    Adding chocolate to a cheesecake recipe can be tricky. Too much and you lose that rich tangy cheesecake flavor. Too little and you can’t even taste the chocolate. Well my friends my Chocolate Cheesecake Bars have just the right balance of chocolate.

    And the added ganache and shortbread crust elevate this snack like cheesecake to a restaurant-style masterpiece.

    What Ingredients do I need to make Chocolate Cheesecake Bars?

    overhead view of ingredients to make chocolate cheesecake bars

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a Pecan Shortbread Crust and Chocolate Ganache. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    How Do I make Chocolate Cheesecake Bars?

    The first step is making the Pecan Shortbread Crust for the Cheesecake Bars.

    4 images showing how to make the shortbread crust
    • Add the flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, and melted butter to a bowl.
    • Mix until well blended.
    • Press the dough into an ungreased 9″x 9″x 2″-inch pan.
    • Bake shortbread crust for 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. or until lightly browned.
    • Allow crust to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes or more before filling with cheesecake batter
    2 images showing how to melt chocolate

    The next step is melting the chocolate you’re going to add to the cheesecake batter.

    Using a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water, melt 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and allow to cool (you will reuse this bowl for the ganache)

    • add the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and whip until smooth and creamy 3-5 minutes.
    • Add the sugar and whip until blended
    • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between each addition, to make sure each egg is fully incorporated.
    • Add the vanilla extract and cooled melted chocolate, blending until all of the chocolate is completely mixed into the cheese mixture.
    2 images showing how to make chocolate ganache

    Place the chocolate and cream in a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water and melt the chocolate while mixing in the cream. Continue stirring until is smooth and chocolate has been completely melted.

    4 images showing how bake the the chocolate cheesecake bars
    • Pour batter into prepared crust
    • Place the pan into a pre-heated oven on the center rack and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked and not loose in the center.
    • Allow the cheesecake to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
    • After cooling add the chocolate ganache topping to the cheesecake

    Allow cheesecake to cool for at least 4 hours before serving. Overnight is best.

    If you are adding pecans as a topping sprinkle the pecans on top of the ganache before chilling.

    overhead view of plated slices of chocolate cheesecake bars

    Cut the cheesecake into squares, serve and watch the smiles appear on the faces of your friends and family.

    cut chocolate cheesecake bars on a white surface

    More Cheesecake Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars with a toffee crust
    • Restaurant Style Cheesecake with Strawberries
    • Ricotta Cheesecake with fruit topping
    • Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    Chocolate Cheesecake with pecan shortbread crust
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    4.55 from 20 votes

    Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with a Pecan Shortbread Crust

    If you’re looking for the perfect cheesecake for the chocolate lover in your life, look no further than my Chocolate Cheesecake Bars. They’re sinfully delicious and easy to make
    Prep Time45 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time1 hr 15 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 552kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Pecan Shortbread Crust

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
    • 1 cup roughly chopped pecans
    • 1 stick unsalted butter -melted

    Cheesecake Filling

    • 8 ounces cream cheese -softened
    • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese or substitute cream cheese
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate cut in small pieces

    Chocolate Ganache

    • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate cut into small pieces
    • 4 ounces heavy cream

    Garnish

    • 2 ounces of chopped pecans optional
    US Customary – Metric
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    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

    Pecan Shortbread Crust

    • Mix together the flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, and melted butter in bowl, until well blended.
    • Press the dough into an ungreased 9″x 9″x 2″-inch pan.
    • Bake shortbread crust for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
    • Allow crust to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes or more before filling

    Cheesecake Filling

    • Using a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water, melt 6 ounces of semi- sweet chocolate and allow to cool (you will reuse this bowl for the ganache)
    • In the bowl of your stand mixer add the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese and whip until smooth and creamy 5-7 minutes.
    • Add the sugar and whip until blended
    • Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between each addition, to make sure each egg is fully incorporated.
    • Add the vanilla extract and cooled melted chocolate, blending until all of the chocolate is completely mixed into the cheese mixture.
    • Pour batter into prepared crust
    • Place pan into preheated oven on center rack and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked and not loose in the center.
    • Allow to cool on wire rack for 20 minutes

    Chocolate Ganache

    • Place chocolate and cream in a stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water and melt chocolate and mix in cream until smooth and chocolate has been completely melted.
    • Pour Ganache over the top of cooked cheesecake, spreading evenly with an offset spatula.
    • Allow cheesecake to cool for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.
    • If you are adding pecans as a topping sprinkle the pecans on top of the ganache before chilling.
    • Cut cheesecake into squares and serve!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1.9mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!
    pinterest image for chocolate cheesecake bars
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      May 18, 2021 at 6:17 am

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious treat! Everyone at my house loved it!

      Reply
    2. Colleen

      May 17, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      5 stars
      I love these and they are a favorite of my chocolate loving daughter!

      Reply
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