Orange Cream Dream Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Orange slices for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Prepare the Crust:
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
- Pour in 1/2 cup of melted unsalted butter and mix until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Firmly press this crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan to form an even crust.
- Bake for 8 minutes, then remove from the oven and let it cool.

3. Make the Cheesecake Filling:
- In a large mixing bowl, blend 8 oz of softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add 1 cup of vanilla pudding mix and 1 cup of whole milk to the cream cheese. Blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Add Citrus Flavor:
- Incorporate 1 tsp of vanilla bean paste, 1 cup of fresh orange juice, and 1 tbsp of orange zest into the cream cheese mixture. Blend until well combined.

5. Whip the Cream:
- In a separate chilled bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

6. Combine and Layer:
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the orange cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated.
- Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled graham cracker crust.

7. Chill the Bars:
- Refrigerate the dessert for at least 4 hours or until set.

8. Garnish and Serve:
- Once set, slice the bars.
- Garnish with fresh orange slices before serving for an appealing presentation.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT20M
20 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT8M
8 minutes
- Chilling Time: PT4H
4 hours

Total Time

PT4H28M
4 hours and 28 minutes

Type of Dish

Dessert

Keywords

Orange Cheesecake, No Bake Cheesecake Bars, Citrus Dessert, Easy Cheesecake Recipe, Graham Cracker Crust Dessert, Creamy Orange Bars, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, Refreshing Cheesecake Bars, Citrus Sweet Treat, Homemade Cheesecake

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 2400 calories

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