These easy Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars combine two favorite recipes in one, pumpkin pie and cheesecake! Add a buttery graham cracker crust for the perfect fall dessert recipe. These whip up in minutes for a fall treat everyone will love!
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I love pumpkin bars, and I love cheesecake bars. So it only made sense to combine them into one delicious dessert. These are delicious bars are perfect for desserts, afternoon snacking, potlucks, or after-school snacks for the kids. AND they’re always a hit. No matter when or where you serve them, everyone loves them, and you’ll rarely have leftovers.
It all starts with a simple graham cracker crust that’s sweet and buttery. Then, it’s topped with a swirl of pumpkin and cheesecake fillings for a treat that looks as pretty as it tastes delicious.
The entire thing comes together in just a few minutes, too. In fact, the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the bars to bake and chill before serving them! Every bite is loaded with pumpkin pie and cheesecake flavors, and if you can get that combo quickly and easy, that’s a big, big win!
Love pumpkin desserts? Try my other pumpkin cheesecake bars or these pumpkin snickerdoodles.
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Bars Recipe
- Winning Combination: You get cheesecake and pumpkin into one delicious dessert. It’s the best of both worlds!
- Easy to Make: Even though they have multiple components, these bars are easy enough for a beginner to make.
- Perfect for Fall: While you can certainly enjoy these bars anytime of the year, they make a perfect fall dessert. Use them for bake sales, fall parties, or even serve them up on a Thanksgiving dessert table.
Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make these bars. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local grocery store.
- Graham cracker crumbs: These make the crust for the bars. You can also use graham crackers and crush them yourself. You can pulse them in a food processor or place them in a plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin to break up.
- Butter: Melted butter works to add flavor to the crust and hold it together.
- Sugar: Sweetens the crust and cheesecake swirl filling.
- Pumpkin puree: For that classic pumpkin flavor. Make sure you grab a can of puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling.
- Spices: For maximum fall flavor we use a combination of pumpkin pie spice and ground cinnamon.
- All-purpose flour: Added to the pumpkin swirl filling to help thicken it.
- Cream cheese: For the best flavor use a quality brand such as Philadelphia and make sure it’s full-fat.
- Large eggs: Gives the cheesecake filling it’s light and fluffy texture. Make sure they’re at room temperature for easy blending.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure extract for the best flavor.
- Salt: Just a touch to bring all the delicious flavors together.
Variations
- Swap the Pumpkin. Instead of pumpkin puree use mashed sweet potatoes instead for another classic fall treat.
- Make it Chocolate. Replacing the graham crackers with crushed Oreos or chocolate cookies instead and sprinkle some chocolate chips or drizzle with chocolate over the top once the bars cool.
- Nutty: Sprinkle finely chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts on the top just before baking.
How to Make Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Bars
This fancy looking recipe is actually very easy to make. It only takes a few simple steps to make! To get started, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Step 1: Make the Crust. Combine the crust ingredients in a medium bowl and mix together. Press it evenly into the baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove it and allow it to cool completely.
- Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Mixture. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth. Add the vanilla and salt, and mix again. Finally, beat in the eggs one at a time until fully combined.
- Step 3: Make the Pumpkin Mixture. Beat the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon until combined in a medium bowl. Mix in a ¼ cup of the cream cheese mixture, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Step 4: Assemble. Alternate adding a scoop of each mixture to the fully cooled crust until all the filling is added. Use a sharp knife or toothpick and swirl the two mixtures together.
- Step 5: Bake and Cool. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes until the edges are set but the middle is still jiggly. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack and let cool. Once it’s cool, chill completely before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These cheesecake bars are delicious with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee.
- Pair them with some mixed fruit, fresh berries, and a scoop of whipped cream on top.
- Prepare a variety of cream cheese desserts for a dessert tray. We especially love them with maple cheesecake bars or mini apple cheesecakes.
- Enjoy them with your other fall pie and fruit desserts for all your fall entertaining. Try them with everything from these apple pie bites to these mini pear pies and mini pumpkin bundt cakes.
Storage Directions
Store these swirled pumpkin cheesecake bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the bars in a double layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Expert Tips
- Soften Your Cream Cheese. Fully softened cream cheese blends more easily so you don’t end up with bits of pure cream cheese in the batter.
- Making the Swirl. When swirling your bar batter, be sure you make the path with the edge of your knife to keep the swirl clean.
- Don’t Overcook Your Bars. The middle should be slightly jiggly. DO NOT try to cook it until firm.
Recipe FAQS
Absolutely. The longer they chill, the better they taste. Feel free to make them the day before you want to serve them.
Make sure you don’t overmix the ingredients. Mix only until combined and no further to avoid adding too much air to the batter. Also, don’t overbake your cheesecake. Cheesecake is meant to be jiggly in the center when done. Trying to bake the jiggle out will dry out the cheesecake.
Try These Swirl Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Today
These delicious pumpkin cream cheese swirl bars combine two classic flavors to create one of the best fall desserts you’ll ever have. It’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Give it a try, and I know you’ll fall in love with it immediately. So will your friends and family!
More Easy Pumpkin Desserts
And, here is a delicious Pumpkin Pecan Bread Pudding from Great Grub, Delicious Treats you will enjoy too!
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Bars
Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Filling
For the Cheesecake Filling
- 24 ounce cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix crust ingredients until combined. Press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove and let cool.
- In a medium bowl, beat pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon until incorporated.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add in vanilla and salt and mix until well incorporated.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fully combined.
- Take ¼ cup of cream cheese mixture and add it to the pumpkin mixture.
- Now, add scoops of each mixture (alternating between the two) until all of the filling is added to the dish.
- Using a sharp knife or toothpick, swirl the cream cheese mixture and the pumpkin mixture together.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the edges are set but the middle is still jiggly.
- Cool and chill completely before serving.
