Nutella Cheesecake Layer Bars

Between volleyball, work, spending time with Ryan, family get-togethers, and time spent with friends...I have gotten so behind on blogging!! I have been playing volleyball almost every weekend, which is really cutting into the time that I would normally use to blog. Here is a yummy dessert I made a few weeks ago: Nutella Cheesecake. Yes, I said...Nutella Cheesecake! Not too bad, health-wise either.

Nutella Cheesecake Layer Bars 
(adapted from Moonlight Baker)

- 8 chocolate graham crackers
- 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- 8 oz. fat free cream cheese, at room temperature
- 8 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, at room temperature 
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- ½ c. granulated sugar
- ¼ c. + 1 tbsp. heavy cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ c. Nutella

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

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

3. In a food processor, pulse chocolate graham crackers until they become crumbs (like bread crumbs).  Add in melted butter and pulse until moistened.  Press graham cracker mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.  Bake crust in the center of the oven until set, about 12 minutes.  Set aside and cool.

4. Clean out the food processor.  Add cream cheese, eggs, sugar, ¼ C. heavy cream, and vanilla extract.  Pulse until smooth.  Put 2/3 of the cream cheese mixture in a bowl and set aside.  Add Nutella and 1 Tbsp. of heavy cream to remaining 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture in the processor.  Pulse until smooth.

 

5. To assemble, spread the vanilla cheesecake mixture over the cooled graham cracker base, being careful not to disturb the crust.  Pour Nutella cheesecake layer on top of vanilla layer and spread evenly. 

6. Bake on the center rack of the oven for about 35 minutes, or until the center jiggles slightly.  Remove from the oven and cool completely on a cooling rack.  Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

 7. When ready to serve, lift bars out of the pan by lifting up the parchment paper (it should release easily).  Slice into 16 squares and serve. 

 

Wine Glasses - Coldwater Creek (from my brother and soon to be sis-in-law)

Enjoy!

Nutritional Information
Calories: 163
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 45 mg
Sodium: 205 mg

Potassium: 0 mg
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Dietary Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 10 g
Protein: 5 g

Vitamin A: 9%
Vitamin C: 0%
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 2%