cranberry mango cheesecake bars
Every year we wait for fresh cranberries to be available just so we can have this decadent cheesecake. Everyone who has tasted it has raved about it and asked for more. It doesn't have to be difficult to be decadent. The rich creamy cheesecake filling is complemented on top by the harvest flavors of spiced cranberry and mango and the sweetness of ripe bananas and on bottom by a crispy chocolaty crust. There are never any leftovers of this recipe at Thanksgiving or Christmas!
prep time
30 Min
cook time
15 Min
method
---
yield
9 to 12 depending on how large your servings are.
Ingredients
- CRUST
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 cup nutella spread
- 2 cups pretzels, crushed
- FILLING
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 2/3 cup cultured sour cream (mexican sour cream)
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 - lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 package (small ) instant banana pudding mix
- TOPPING
- 1 cup phillipine brand dried mangoes
- 1 1/2 cups cranberries, fresh
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spices
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 - ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup nutella spread
How To Make cranberry mango cheesecake bars
-
Step 1Begin by making the crust.
-
Step 2Crush 2 cups of pretzel sticks using a rolling pin. Make sure all sticks get crushed but you don't want them too fine.
-
Step 3Stir the melted butter into the Nutella spread to mix and warm it
-
Step 4Add your 2 cups of crushed pretzels and stir to thoroughly mix.
-
Step 5Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan.
-
Step 6Next, get the topping started.
-
Step 7Julienne the dried mango into thin strips.
-
Step 8Place them into a saucepan with the fresh cranberries, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and water.
-
Step 9Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer while you make the filling.
-
Step 10Cook it until it reaches the consistency of jam and the mango slices have softened. You may add more water and continue cooking if needed.
-
Step 11Now for the filling. Soften the cream cheese by beating with the paddle attachment of your stand mixer on low speed. We don't want to incorporate a lot of air into the mixture so that it stays dense and creamy.
-
Step 12Slowly add the sour cream and half and half, beating on low speed until thoroughly mixed.
-
Step 13Add the juice and zest of one fresh lemon and the vanilla extract.
-
Step 14Still on low speed, add one small package of dry instant banana pudding mix and beat until mixed, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl so there are no lumps of cream cheese.
-
Step 15Pour the mixture over the crust and place it into the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until set.
-
Step 16Take the fruit topping off the heat and place it in the refrigerator to cool once it reaches a jammy consistency, while we work on the last steps.
-
Step 17Slice 2 bananas on a slight diagonal to make oval slices of banana about 1/4 inch thick. Layer them on top of the chilled filling.
-
Step 18Top with the cooled cranberry mango fruit topping.
-
Step 19When you are ready to serve...Place 1/2 cup of Nutella spread in a plastic zipper bag and close it tightly. Let it set in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes to warm it. Take it out of the bowl of hot water and snip a tiny corner of the bag and use it to drizzle Nutella across the top of each person's serving of cheesecake. Enjoy~!
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Comment & Reviews
ADVERTISEMENT
Just A Pinch Sweepstakes