I made these cheesecake bars a few weeks ago after going through my collection of recipes that I’d emailed to myself over time. There was expired cream cheese in my kitchen that I wanted to bake with and was lacking for ideas.
Luckily I found this recipe on Noble Pig a while ago and was smart enough to save it. I made just a couple of changes based on ingredients I had on hand and was very happy with the outcome. The layer of moist mocha cake is topped with a creamy coffee flavored cheesecake. You can even taste a hint of the liquor that is in there. Plus, I added cinnamon chips which make almost anything more delicious.
Cappuccino Cheesecake Cake Bars
Serves 24
Ingredients:
Cake Layer:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 Tablespoons instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake Layer:
2 8-ounce packages light cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup coffee liqueur (I used Starbucks)
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cinnamon chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray
Prepare cake layer; whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl; set aside
Combine buttermilk and melted butter in a small bowl; stir into flour mixture just until combined
Spread cake layer evenly into prepared pan; note that the batter may be thick and you may need to press it down with the back of a spatula
Prepare cheesecake layer; beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on high speed until light and creamy; add sugar and mix on medium speed until combined
Add eggs and liqueur; beat for several minutes or until smooth and creamy
Stir in chocolate chips and cinnamon chips
Pour cheesecake layer over cake batter and bake in center of oven for 25-30 minutes or until cheesecake is set
Refrigerate a couple of hours until cool and completely set
Cut into squares and serve; store remaining cheesecake in the refrigerator.
Adapted from Noble Pig
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I’ve got a real craving for cheesecake at the moment so this looks absolutely delicious!
This looks so delicious!!!
I would gobble these up Lauren! I love coffee flavors in desserts!
These look lovely – so happy you’ve introduced me to Noble Pig too, great blog!
The combination sounds great! I’ve never tried cheesecake in bar form, would be great for a party.
Yum, I love cheesecake brownies, and cappuccino ones sound like a winner. I’ve only ventured as far to make pb and normal, this may have to be next on my list!
Expired? Haha. I use expired stuff too. Sometimes people ask me why I’ve made and am sharing brownies, cookies and cake all in one day. If it smells okay, it’s going to get used.
Anyway, these look fantastic! I don’t drink coffee but I love it in baked goods, especially cheesecake or cheesecake-like things.
I love the Starbucks coffee liqueur but never baked with it. These sound awesome!
Looks fab! Everything you make always does.
Oh, this sounds good. If I try it I may throw in some chocolate chips into that cheesecake layer for fun.
Amazing combination. Cappuccino, Cheesecake..in bar form. I’m so loving this!
I loooove cheesecake bars, and the flavors here are great
good job!
Oh these look perfect! Cappuccino in dessert format!
They look fantastic!!!I am a huge coffee fan and I would love a dozen of those!
Cappuccino and cheesecake? You’re kidding right? I would die. I’ve got this pinned and bookmarked!
I love adding cinnamon chips to baked goods too! Besides the chips, everything in this bar makes it perfect!
I’m in complete awe over this recipe. I love coffee and I love cheesecake. A win-win.
Yum! I’m such a sucker for anything cappuccino and I will eat any form of cheesecake. You seriously just put 2 of my ultimate weaknesses together. Looks like I’ll have to hit the gym twice a day now because I will eat this entire batch!
These sound great. I never have cream cheese on hand when I seem to need it but then when I do get some for just in case urges for baked goods I never use it. These bars are a great remedy.
I had to laugh at the expired cream cheese comment…I say if it doesn’t have mold, it’s still good! (yeah…maybe you should be wary of just about anything I make
) these bars sound amazing. Can I have them with breakfast instead of coffee?? (Okay, not INSTEAD of coffee….but I still maintain they’re breakfast food.)
I can never really get enough cheesecake. Some people claim that it’s too heavy and I don’t understand those people OR want to be friends with them
These look amazing!!
Lauren, these look delicious! I love a good capuccino and I love cheesecake, so I know these would be right up my alley. Great recipe!
Yum! These look and sound delicious. Great flavor combo.
So delicious! These look addicting.
Oh yum!! I don’t really know what it is but that cream cheese layer just looks sooo good, I wish I could reach through the screen and take a bite of one of these! Really great recipe! Makes me want to go into my emailed recipe archives!
OMG, my husband will die for these!
These look absolutely delicious! Cappuccino and cheesecake — what a great combination! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
coffee & cheesecake, my 2 favorite things!!
Totally am with you on the smell test!!
LOL as long as it smells ok it is totally fine…