Nutella Cheesecake Bars with Graham Cracker Crust

The best part of the holiday season is the wonderful  food and decorations everywhere.  The air is filled with romance and cheer. Everybody is experimenting in the kitchen. There is an overwhelming feeling to impress and spread love, joy and cheer around you. So as I am enjoying every minute of the holidays, I equally attentive to explore and prepare desserts for my guests.

Last Sunday I had few guests over for lunch and had to come up with a fast, quick and easy dessert to satisfy. There is nothing more simpler and creative than making Nutella Cheesecake Bars that leave a lasting impression of joy and happiness on your guests. 

A seductive combination, Nutella and cheesecake combine to make a rich yet light dessert. I prefer the graham cracker crust, but please do not hesitate to try other variations like vanilla wafers or Oreo cookie crust.

I picked up a nice honey flavored graham cracker crust at the supermarket which allowed me to cut out the sugar quotient due to its natural sweetness. Also, graham cracker crusts make this a light dessert compared to Oreo cookies or the chocolate/vanilla wafer crusts, but still add your variations and see what works best for you. 

This is an easy and simple dessert with a rich chocolate-hazelnut spread and a bang of yumminess!Try this out and hope your guests enjoy it as much as mine did.

Here's what you would need :

2 cups crushed honey flavored graham crackers

2 tbsp of melted butter

8 x 8 baking dish buttered and lined with parchment paper

16 oz cream cheese at room temperature

2 eggs

1/2 cup of granulate white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup of Nutella

To make the crust :

Preheat oven to 350ºF

Butter an 8×8 baking dish and line with parchment paper, making sure that the parchment is well pressed in the corners. Set aside.

Crush the graham crackers into crumbs and add the melted butter and mix. 

Spread the crust evenly into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake 12 minutes until set. Remove and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, eggs,sugar, vanilla and with electric hand mixer combine to get a smooth and creamy mixture.

To assemble :

Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled graham cracker crust.

Drop dollops of Nutella and with the knife swirl the Nutella into the cheesecake.

Bake on the center rack of the oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until the center jiggles slightly.

Cool for about an hour and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

When serving, lift the parchment paper and cut into squares. 

Enjoy!