Chai Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Active Time: 15 Mins
Total Time: 2 Hours 35 Mins
Yield: Serves 12 (serving size: 1 square)

These eye-catching dessert bars taste like your favorite chai latte, reimagined in cheesecake form. Featuring flavorful swirls of chai-infused cream cheese filling, each bite offers richly aromatic, spiced flavor set against a cool and creamy vanilla cheesecake backdrop. They’re a simple dessert to make, but undeniably impressive. 

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 6 tablespoons (3 oz.) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 2(8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2large eggs
  • 5 teaspoons chai tea latte powdered mix (such as Oregon Chai)

How to Make It

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, salt, and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture into bottom of a lightly greased (with cooking spray) 8- or 9-inch square pan or baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 9 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes. 

Step 2

Beat together cream cheese, vanilla, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed just until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Reserve 1/2 cup of the batter in a glass measuring cup. Pour remaining batter over cooled crust.

Step 3

Gradually stir in chai tea mix into reserved batter to combine. Dollop chai batter over vanilla-cream cheese batter, and gently swirl with a knife, being careful not to press into crust layer.

Step 4

Bake at 350°F until almost set, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cover and chill at least 1 hour before serving.

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