If you don't want a whole Amaretto cheesecake, make Amaretto Cheesecake Bars instead! I just love cheesecake bars because you get all of the flavor of cream cheese in a bite size package. Plus bars are so much easier to make, and less stressful because there's no worrying about cracks or waterbaths.
Food Processor
The recipe calls for a food processor, but there's really no need to use one unless you have yours out and you are in the mood to use a processor. A stand mixer is fine. Just add the softened butter to the dry ingredients, mix with the paddle until it all sticks together.
I've been making these for years now. Here's an old photo. It somehow magically got turned on its side when I reformatted the size of photos. For some reason this angle makes me laugh. I took some new photos too.
This recipe makes just enough for an 8-inch pan. If you are using a slightly larger pan or if you want a thicker crust, increase the crumb mixture by ⅓. For a 9x13 inch pan, just double the recipe.
Amaretto Cheesecake Bars
1 cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup brown sugar -- packed
6 tablespoons unsalted butter -- softened
¼ teaspoon salt
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temp
4 tablespoons amaretto
½ teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons whole roasted almonds -- chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 inch square metal pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
Combine flour, salt and brown sugar in bowl of food process and pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse until mixture is coarse. Set aside about (estimate) 1 cup of mixture for topping, then press remaining into pan. Bake 12-15 minutes.
Clean food processor bowl and add cream cheese and sugar. Process cheese and sugar until very smooth. Add egg, amaretto and vanilla and pulse until mixed. Spread batter over partially baked crust.
Add almonds to reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle over cream cheese mixture.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, then chill.
Cut into 6 or 8 squares, then cut each square into a triangle.
Makes 12 or 16
Recipe
Amaretto Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar -- packed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter -- softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus an extra pinch
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons amaretto
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tablespoons whole roasted almonds -- chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square metal pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
- Combine flour, salt and brown sugar in bowl of food process and pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse until mixture is coarse. Set aside about (estimate) 1 cup of mixture for topping, then press remaining into pan. Bake 12-15 minutes.
- Clean food processor bowl and add cream cheese and sugar. Process cheese and sugar until very smooth. Add egg, amaretto and vanilla and pulse until mixed. Spread batter over partially baked crust.
- Add almonds to reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle over cream cheese mixture.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, then chill.
- Cut into 6 or 8 squares, then cut each square into a triangle.
Laura says
Made these tonight to take to the office tomorrow. I broke off an edge after I chilled them...they are great. I used sliced almonds that I toasted. I didn't really measure the amount, but I put half on before the crumb topping and half after (instead of mixing in). I've tired of my usual repertoire of desserts, and you have quickly become my new go-to source...fabulous!
Rairy says
Made them last night and wow. Love the recipe.
Carrie says
You know that sound Homer Simpson makes when he is drooling for his beer or doughnuts? Well....that is me..right now! I want these bars! You are a cookie goddess!
Debbie G says
Oh do those look good! My kind of dessert. I think I will bring these in to the next potluck at my office!!
alliceh says
These look delicous and ind of like turnovers. May I add this recipe to my website http://www.cheesecake-recipes.org
Daisy Doodles says
These look tasty!
Susan - the guy at the liquor store near my house thinks I am a closet lush because I am always in there buying the small size bottles of alcohol for cooking/baking. One day, I went in and bought the big bottle of Kahlua and he said "Oh yeah, making "fudge" again"..haha. I took him some just to prove that's what I was buying it for.
Susan says
Those look great (& great picture shot)! I wonder if I can buy amaretto in smaller quantities?
Dana says
OMG these look amazing!!
Jennifer says
yum! those look too good to be true
Emiline says
These would be perfect with a glass of Disaronno on the rocks.
clumbsycookie says
They sound delicious Anna. I bet they'll be even better tomorrow. I would have a piece with a nice shot of Amaretto, love that stuff!
Cat says
I am all for anything ANYTHING with amaretto.
Katrina says
Yum! I love all your cheesecakey bars!
VeggieGirl says
Oooh, those look divine!