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Monday, December 27, 2010

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

pumpkincheesebars2

Oh Dearies! I hope you all had a nice, relaxing holiday weekend.

One highlight of our holiday was an enchanting batch of organic pumpkin cheese bars. They were so delicious that the whole pan was gone in less than 24 hours. Plus, they are almost too easy to make. Your food processor will do most of the work for you;-)



















Here is the recipe:

-Pumpkin Cheese Bars-

Crust:
1 Cup Organic A.P. Flour
1 Cup Raw Pecans
2 Packets Instant Oatmeal*
1/3 Cup Turbinado Sugar
Pinch of salt
1/2 Cup Organic, Unsalted Butter (1 Stick)
*I used two individual sized packets of Publix brand organic instant oatmeal.

Pumpkin Cheese Filling:
1 15 oz Can Organic Pumpkin Puree
2/3 of an 8 oz Pack of Neufchatel cheese**
2 Organic Eggs
3/4 Cup + 1 Tbsp. Turbinado Sugar
2 Tbsp. Agave Syrup
1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp. Nutmeg
3/4 Tsp. Real Vanilla Extract
**If you are unfamiliar with Neufchatel, it is a lot like cream cheese but with about 30% less fat. It is located right next to the cream cheese in your grocer's cooler!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees & grease an 8 by 8 by 2 1/2 inch square Pyrex baking dish.

For the crust, place the flour, sugar & butter in the food processor and pulse for about 7-10 seconds. Then add the pecans and 1 pack of oatmeal. Pulse till the mixture starts to come together and look moist. Add the other pack of oatmeal-just pulse it in for about 4-5 seconds. Push 2/3 of the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish (put the other 1/3 on a plate in the fridge) and place in the oven. Allow to bake for about 11 minutes. Remove and cool for at least 5 minutes before adding the filling. By the way, do not wash the processor. Just move to the next step below...

For the filling, place all of the filling ingredients in the food processor and spin till smooth. Pour into the crust once it has cooled for at least 5 minutes. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for about 25 minutes. Then pull the dish out and sprinkle with the other 1/3 of the crust. Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the top looks shiny and the middle looks about the same as the sides in terms of texture and lift.

Allow to cool for at least 2-3 hours.

Enjoy!

47 comments:

  1. These look terrific! I love the layers! I actually was hopping over for a little dinner inspiration but these will do for dessert or a snack later this week for sure! :)

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  2. Mmm these look and sound amazing! I love anything pumpkin. I hope you had a great Christmas. I've been missing in the blogging world lately. I missed reading your posts. I am glad I am back : ]

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  3. Stella, they look so naughty--I LOVE that! I'm sure they would disappear in my house just as fast! Thanks for not snubbing the pumpkin directly after Thanksgiving. It deserves a little more attention!

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  4. Well, who says pumpkin's just for fall or turkey day?? Love the layers and the crust (pecans!) and I am mad for nutmeg! Thank you!!

    Just lovely Stella - you make me want to go out and buy a pumpkin, and a food processor ;)

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  5. These look like a low fuss to high yield ratio - those are just the sort of odds I appreciate. Hope you had an amazing holiday - happy New Year!

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  6. These look so decadent! These are now on my list of reasons to get a food processor. One of these days I'm going to break down and buy one... I hope that you have a fantastic New Year's!

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  7. Hey Stella,

    Oooh, I've never tried pumpkin cheesecake before. Your cheesecake bars sure are looking delicious! I like that you didn't use Graham crackers for the bottom. Not that I don't like Graham crackers, but your version is quite new and refreshing to me. Sprinkling the rest of the mixture for the crust on top of the cheesecake adds great contrast in texture, and is the perfect finishing touch to this wonderful cheesecake bar. Yummers!

    I hope you and Cauldron Boy had a great holiday weekend as well. Hubby is still on holidays so I've been trying to spend as much family time with him and kiddies as I can. Hope you had a happy holiday and wishing you and Cauldron Boy a happy new year, Stella!

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  8. Stella, as always these look absolutely heavenly! I love that you are squeezing out as much pumpkin as you can as the holidays begin to wrap up. I hope you had a wonderful christmas, and enjoy your week as we get ready to ring in the new year.

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  9. WOW. those look really delicious. I think I will have them at my New Year's party. Yes!!

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  10. Stella, these look scrumptious! Neufchatel cheese and pumpkin are like milk and honey...irresistible.
    Your photos are stunning, as usual. :-)

    A very Happy New Year to you, and your Cauldron Boy!

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  11. It was our picnic under the Eiffel tower last summer that I had my first Neufchatel cheese and I was in love... it is shaped as a heart, too. I cannot get it anywhere here... I thought it was a bit more like brie, so am so surprised to hear it is lower in fat. You are one creative lady! Lucky family! Do you hear that, Stella's family?
    :)
    Valerie

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  12. Happy Holidays Stella, sending you hugs and kisses...pumpkin kisses that is.. I love everything about the bars..the crust is amazing of course with pecans (love them!)and cutting back the fat with N cheese, great idea and turbinado sugar is quickly becoming my favorite, chuls and hubby purchased a bag last week.
    have a great week
    sweetlife

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  13. These look great! I love pumpkin anything!

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  14. Oh Stella, these look sooooo good! Everyone is looking at the screen and telling me to make them.
    Hope you had happy holidays and I wish you a very Happy New Year, my dear friend!

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  15. Stella these pumpkin cheesecake bars look so good, they wouldn't last 12 hours in my house. I love the look of the pumpkin layer in the squares.
    I also want to wish you a happy New Year's Eve celebration and look forward to following your posts in the new year:-)

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  16. These cheese bars look terrific!
    I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!

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  17. gosh part of me is so excited about these and part is kicking my self for looking they look and sound so good! (should have know you would have something amazing) i did promise myself i would start the "new year diet" but looking at these, im sure it wont matter if i start a little bit later!! will it :)

    Zoe x

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  18. As for a blog makeover they are always fun :)

    Zoe x

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  19. Hi Stella, Hope you had a beautiful Christmas :) The pumpkin cheesecake bars look amazing, but that is nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to your recipes. They look so delicious and healthy! I hope you have a fabulous new years eve celebration and cheers to an great 2011!

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  20. Happy Holidays to you dear Stella :) Wow.., this is awesome..., are you serious its that simple. I'm about to go have a little chat with my food processor.., we've obviously got a little work to do today :) Great little recipe, it looks wonderfully colourful.

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  21. Hello me again:) I forgot to thank you for the information you left me on the red wine. Thank you for teaching me these and I'm going to try it with my next baking project, I'm excited:)

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  22. Hope you had an amazing Holiday!
    And talk about amazing, these look and sound delightful :)

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  23. Stella! These look amazing! I would pay good money in whole foods for a treat like this. Happy new year to you. May it be magical!

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  24. These bars look delicious, the crust sounds excellent with oatmeal and pecans!

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  25. Love that picture; your pumpkin bars look so light and healthy. perfect!

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  26. Hope you had a fabulous Christmas, these sure look tasty. Lovely photo, have a happy new year in 2011~

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  27. Gee, I can't possibly imagine why these would have been gone in less than 24 hours. Maybe because they look insanely delicious! Hope you had a wonderful holiday, Stella!

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  28. What a delicious combo cheesecake and pumpkin! These sound amazing Stella :)!

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  29. Pumpkin, I love it. This is healthy vegetarian meal!

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  30. wow those pics are so enticing or should i say bewitching? the bars look delish!

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  31. Love pumpkin and can never get enough of it. What a great recipe. Happy New Year! Love your blog!

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  32. Less than 24 hrs!? wow I now WANT a slice now!
    Guess what I have homemade pumpkin puree in the freezer. Perfect!

    Happy New Year Stella!

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  33. It seems that I was away for so long and missing all the blog actions around! ;)

    Happy New Year to you and your family

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  34. I wanted to stop by Stella and wish you and your family a safe, happy New Year.

    I am looking forward to enjoying your blog in 2011.

    Velva

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  35. I can't believe I arrived so late for this post. The flavors and layers are awesome. You are a Master at combining myriad grains and textures.

    Here's wishing you & yours a GLORIOUS New Year Stella!

    Chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

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  36. These do sound delicious! Hope you had a wonderful holiday and here is wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

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  37. I didn't make these, but what I did make was your poppy seed dinner rolls - to go with our New Year's eve dinner/buffet. There were delicious and looked absolutely perfect - just like yours!! thanks!!!

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  38. Fantastic recipe! love these yummy little bars. Happy New Year, Stella!

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  39. Happy new year Stella! These sound so lovely and delicious!

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  40. Great site! Followed your name from Biren at Rotini n Rice! Hope you had a great new years eve. Your blog is wonderful and i will be visiting it often. Wish I would have seen the post about submitting our best 2010 recipe! Oh well! Maybe next year! Would love for you to come visit if you ever get the chance! Have a fabulous day! XO
    jessica

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  41. These are basically instant love, if you ask my opinion! Good thing I still have a ton of cans of pumpkin left. I know what my next baked good will be...

    Happy new year Stella!

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  42. Those look delicious!
    And I hope you have a very happy and utterly wonderful 2011!

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  43. Better late than never !!!

    My dear Stellita,

    I hope all your dreams come true in 2011..You seem to be such a good girl,you work so hard AND well, that I'm sure God will have you on his "priority high" list ;D
    Muchisima suerte para este aƱo !!!!

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  44. You are a wicked witch indeed for this recipe... how can it not be the best thing in the world!!! Happy New Year, Stella... Here's hoping 2011 i a great year for us all!!

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  45. Can't go wrong with pumpkin! These look so good (and easy to veganize). Here's to a fabulous 2011!

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  46. Hi Stella, yes, I had a nice and relaxing holiday. I hope you too.
    Happy New Year to you and family!

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  47. Dearie Stella!
    I am sending you my best wishes for a happy, magic, joyful and delicious New Year!
    Hope you are having great holidays!
    Take care.
    xoxox

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