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Chocolate Cheesecake with pecan shortbread crust
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4.58 from 21 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 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
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

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