Raise the bar on sweets with Pumpkin Cheesecake bars from Essential Everyday. This recipe is easy and oh, so yummy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 Essential Everyday Graham Cracker Pie Crusts
• 4 tbsp Essential Everyday unsalted butter, melted
• 1 ½ lbs (3 packages) Essential Everyday cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 ½ cups Essential Everyday sugar
• 6 eggs
• 2 tsp Essential Everyday vanilla extract
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 15 oz can Essential Everyday pumpkin puree
• For serving: Essential Everyday whipped cream

Directions:

1. Grease a 9x13” baking dish and line with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Remove the pie crusts from packaging and transfer to a bowl. Using your hands, crumble up into fine crumbs. Stir in melted butter until well combined, then transfer to baking dish and press firmly into the pan in an even layer.
3. Add cream cheese and sugar to a food processor and process until smooth (1-2 minutes). Slowly add in the eggs, scraping down the sides as needed, then add in the vanilla extract. Optional: at this point, remove ~½ cup of the cheesecake filling and set aside if you want to make the swirl effect.
4. Add in the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and continue blending until smooth. Pour on top of pie crust.
5. Using a spoon, dollop the remaining regular cheesecake filling over the top, then use a toothpick or a knife to swirl together.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the sides are set and the center is just slightly jiggly.
7. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2+ hours to chill completely before serving.