King Cake Cheesecake Bars (Printable Version)

Festive bars featuring colorful swirls over a buttery cinnamon crust with rich creamy layers, ideal for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheesecake Layer

06 - 16 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/3 cup sour cream
10 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional

→ Swirl Colors

13 - Purple gel food coloring
14 - Green gel food coloring
15 - Yellow gel food coloring

→ Icing

16 - 1 cup powdered sugar
17 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
18 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

19 - Purple sanding sugar
20 - Green sanding sugar
21 - Gold sanding sugar

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter in a medium bowl. Mix until evenly moistened. Press firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes and set aside to cool.
03 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in sour cream, flour, vanilla, and almond extract until just combined.
04 - Divide cheesecake batter evenly into three bowls. Tint each portion with purple, green, or yellow gel food coloring, stirring until color is evenly distributed.
05 - Drop spoonfuls of colored batters randomly over the cooled crust. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the colors together for a marbled effect without overmixing.
06 - Bake for 35-40 minutes until the center is just set and slightly wobbly. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
07 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over chilled bars.
08 - Sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugar to decorate. Slice into bars and serve.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They look like edible art the moment you pull them from the pan, which means you'll absolutely impress people without breaking a sweat.
  • The cinnamon crust gives you that comforting warmth while the cheesecake stays impossibly creamy and the colors stay bold and distinct.
  • They're festive enough for a party but simple enough that you won't feel stressed while making them.
02 -
  • Gel food coloring is absolutely essential; liquid food coloring will thin your batter and turn your cheesecake cake-like and disappointing.
  • Don't skip the overnight chill; it's the difference between a bars that taste good and bars that taste like something special, and it also makes them easier to slice cleanly.
03 -
  • Bring your cream cheese to room temperature before you even start, because cold cream cheese won't beat smooth and you'll end up with lumps in your filling.
  • The knife or skewer you use for swirling should be dipped in water between swirls so it glides cleanly through the batter and creates those beautiful color transitions.
Return