Happy World Nutella Day!!! I love celebrating food holidays… mainly because I love making food, but this Raspberry Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars recipe is extra special.
You see, about 2 years ago I was strolling through the grocery store and happened to notice a huge shelf dedicated to Nutella. I had never understood the hype over it (mainly because I wasn’t a huge hazelnut fan) but decided to grab a jar of it for my hazelnut-obsessed husband. It was a game changer, no, life changer. Not only do I LOVE Nutella now, but I love practically everything hazelnut!
Now that Nutella is a pantry staple, we use it in/on all sorts of things. For example I stuffed it inside of these s’mores cupcakes, used it as a base for this flourless chocolate cake and swirled in homemade ice cream. It’s so versatile! It was perfect to use in these raspberry Nutella swirl cheesecake bars. All I did was warm it up so that it was slightly less firm and then used a skewer to swirl it over the top of my cheesecake base. I added a few fresh raspberries on top and that was it!
These bars are so incredibly decadent! I love them and so did everyone else, especially my husband! He loves the Cheesecake Factory’s two raspberry flavored cheesecakes, so I knew these would be a hit! I loved the chocolate base, the thick and rich filling, the silky Nutella swirl and the sweet raspberries. I don’t think this combo could get any better! If you want to get really fancy you can do a little adjusting to make this a full 9″ round cheesecake, but these bars were so easy and mess-free that I’d much rather make this version!
If you’re looking for a sweet and sinful dessert for Valentine’s Day, I’d highly suggest these bars! They’re definitely a new favorite of ours!
Raspberry Cheesecake Bars with Nutella Swirls Recipe
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Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (graham crackers or Oreos)
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- 4 Tbsp butter - melted
Filling
- 1 lb or (2) 8 oz blocks plain cream cheese - room temperature
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs - room temperature
- 1/3 cup sour cream - room temperature
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream - room temperature
Toppings
- 1/3 cup Nutella - slightly warm
- 4 oz raspberries (about 20 or so)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Line an 8×8 square baking pan* with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on at least 2 sides for easy removal.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing it into an even layer. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten it. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove and allow the pan to cool while preparing the filling.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese, salt, and vanilla until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). With the mixer on low, gradually add the sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat for an additional minute. Return to low speed and add the eggs one at a time, mixing until incorporated. Add the sour cream, then the heavy cream, and beat on high for 1 minute.
- Pour the cream cheese filling over the baked crust, smoothing the top with a spatula. Add dollops of Nutella on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer, taking care not to touch the crust. Place the raspberries on top. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 40–50 minutes. Cover the pan with foil around the 30-minute mark to prevent browning.
- After the bars have been baked, turn off the oven and slightly crack the door open. Allow the bars to cool in the oven for 1 hour. Remove and place the pan in the refrigerator to chill for at least 4 hours before slicing and serving.
NOTES
- This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9" springform pan. Use my Perfect New York Cheesecake instructions, adding Nutella and raspberries before baking and skipping the sour cream topping.
Nutrition
Recipe source: Life Made Simple
I may have just died looking at these. I need to make them soon.
Is it bad I’m considering eating these for dinner? They look so, so good!!!!!
I was the same…I did not get all the hoopla and then I tried it. I do love the stuff now. It is addicting! Your cheesecake bars look amazing!
This looks amazing! So many great things in this desert. I’ll have to pin for later. I know my family would love this one!
How did I not know about something as glorious as World Nutella Day?!
Tell me I don’t have to wait till the next one for a good excuse to make these gorgeous bars! Haha.
I know how you feel, it’s always a good day for some Nutella!