Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Pecan Cheesecake Bars

Teresa Ambra

Teresa’s Bake Shop – Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2012

Pecan Cheesecake bars, oh my! What’s not to like about cheesecake??? Yum, yum, yum! These are wonderful little pecan bars with a tasty cheesecake filling and more pecans sprinkled on top. Decadent, rich, lovely, delectable, sensational! You and your company will love these tasty treats, and they are so easy to make, too.

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The most difficult thing about this recipe is finding a Butter Pecan cake mix! For several years I wasn’t able to find stores that stocked this cake mix. Recently, however, stores like Wal-Mart have started carrying it again and so I pulled this recipe out of my cookbook archives and decided to give it a whirl again. I am so glad I did. This amazing recipe tastes terrific–I think you’ll find it terrific in every way too.

I got this recipe years ago in the early 1980s from Maggi Odom when we both attended the same church in Largo, Florida. Maggi had grown children at the time and we had newborns. Maggi’s husband, Guy, was a deacon at the church as well as a Sunday school teacher.

Maggi brought this luscious dessert for a deacon fellowship once and we loved it. In fact, I couldn’t get enough of it. I was really happy when Maggi shared this spectacular recipe with me. I have no idea who originated the recipe. I haven’t changed it much from the way Maggi made it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

When I initially posted this recipe as one of my Christmas cookies for 2012, the pictures were taken with a poor quality iPhone 3 camera. Not only that, but the photos were too busy and gaudy with Christmas decorations, so it was a little difficult seeing the texture and just how wonderful these little jewels were.

I’ve been systematically going back through all my first-year blog recipes so I could retake pictures that are more attractive and with more clarity. As a result, I recently remade these cookies (November 2015) for a family after the husband had back surgery.

Along with a batch of Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup and Easy French Bread, these delightful brownies made a delicious dessert for that meal. Whether you make them for the holidays or other special occasions, Pecan Cheesecake Bars are a real treat!

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Pecan Cheesecake Bars are a scrumptious treat for the holidays.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Each bar has a luscious cheesecake filling making this dessert rich, decadent and spectacular!

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Your company will love be treated to a batch of Pecan Cheesecake Bars.

Here’s what I did.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

I used these ingredients. You will need a box of Butter Pecan cake mix. I usually find it at Walmart or Kroger. Reserve one cup cake mix and set it aside for the topping.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Place the remaining cake mix in a bowl. Add an egg and oil.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Stir all ingredients together to combine. Spray a 9×13″ baking pan with cooking spray. Fit the dough into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Meanwhile, prepare cheesecake filling: Soften cream cheese. Add an egg, lemon juice and sugar.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Beat all the ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

After crust has baked 15 minutes remove from oven.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Spread cream cheese filling over top of baked crust.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Sprinkle cream cheese layer with remaining Butter Pecan cake mix and finely diced pecans. Bake another 15 minutes at 350.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

After the bars have baked another 15 minutes, cool completely before cutting into bars.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

These beautiful Pecan Cheesecake Bars look so elegant on plates and platters, but be prepared for these treats to be snatched up quickly! Your holiday company will drool over these luscious bars.

Here’s the recipe.

PECAN CHEESECAKE BARS

(Recipe from Maggi Odom, First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, Largo, FL)

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Pecan Cheesecake Bars

Teresa Ambra
Pecan Cheesecake Bars are absolutely awesome! This delicious bar starts with a butter pecan cake mix. It has a cheesecake filling and is topped with reserved cake mix and chopped pecans. This is a delightful treat during the holidays, but it's an exceptionally good dessert any time of the year.
3.90 from 10 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 161 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 nut chopper unless your pecans are already chopped
  • 1 spatula

Ingredients
  

CRUST:

  • 1 box Betty Crocker butter pecan cake mix reserve 1 cup cake mix for topping
  • 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg

CHEESECAKE FILLING:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

TOPPING:

  • 1 cup reserved butter pecan cake mix
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped (measure after chopping)

Instructions
 

CRUST:

  • Reserve 1 cup of cake mix for later.
  • Mix remaining cake mix, oil, and egg until crumbly.
  • Pat into 9x13” cooking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  • (This is a gooey mixture.)
  • Bake 15 minutes at 350°.

CHEESECAKE FILLING:

  • Beat together ingredients in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and smooth.
  • Spread over baked layer.

TOPPING:

  • Sprinkle reserved butter pecan cake mix over top of cream cheese layer.
  • Add chopped nuts.
  • Bake 15 minutes longer.
  • When cool, cut into bars.

Notes

NOTE: Quite frankly, you don't need more than about 1/2 cup of reserved cake mix to sprinkle over the top. So if you prefer less of the dry cake mix on top, consider reserving only 1/2 cup cake mix for the topping.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 222mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 1mg
Keyword butter pecan cake mix, cheesecake, cookies, dessert, pecan cheesecake bars, pecans
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Pecan Cheesecake Bars[/b]
Recipe Type: Cookies, Brownies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Maggi Odom when we attended First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo, FL
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 24
This delicious bar starts with a butter pecan cake mix. It has a cheesecake filling and is topped with reserved cake mix and chopped pecans. This is a delightful treat during the holidays.
Ingredients
  • [b]CRUST:[/b][br]
  • 1 [url href=”http://www.bettycrocker.com/” target=”_blank” title=”betty crocker”]Betty Crocker[/url] [url href=”http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/supermoist-cakes” target=”_blank” title=”betty crocker butter pecan cake mix”]butter pecan cake mix[/url] (reserve 1 cup cake mix for topping)
  • 1/3 cup canola or coconut oil
  • 1 egg[br]
  • [b]CHEESECAKE FILLING:[/b]
  • 8-oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice[br]
  • [b]TOPPING:[/b][br]
  • 1 cup reserved pecan cake mix
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. [b]CRUST:[/b][br]
  2. Reserve 1 cup of crumb mixture for later.
  3. Mix remaining cake mix, oil, and egg until crumbly.
  4. Pat into 9×13” cooking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  5. (This is a gooey mixture.)
  6. Bake 15 minutes at 350°.
  7. [b]CHEESECAKE FILLING:[/b][br]
  8. Beat together until light and smooth.
  9. Spread over baked layer.
  10. [b]TOPPING:[/b][br]
  11. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top of cream cheese layer.
  12. Add chopped nuts.
  13. Bake 15 minutes longer.
  14. When cool, cut into bars.
Notes
Quite frankly, you don’t need more than about 1/2 cup of reserved cake mix to sprinkle over the top. So if you prefer less of the dry cake mix on top, consider reserving only 1/2 cup cake mix for the topping.
Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Our Bible study classes have always enjoyed getting these goodies as gifts.

Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these lovely #pecan #brownies have a wonderful #cheesecake layer that makes them spectacular. #dessert

Hand out Pecan Cheesecake Bars to your neighbors or take them to your office party and they will be gobbled up quickly! You and your family will also love this festive holiday bar-type cookie.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Pecan Treats

Pecan Treats | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these miniature #pecanpies are our favorite #christmas #cookie. Everybody loves them. They have a cream cheese crust & #pecan & brown sugar filling to die for! #dessert

Iced Coconut Pecan Bars

Iced Coconut Pecan Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fabulous #cookie has a #coconut & #Pecan filling & a lovely citrus icing. Perfect for summer #holiday parties. #dessert

Apricot Coconut Pecan Bars

Apricot Coconut Pecan Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | exquisite and heavenly #dessert with a #coconut shorbread crust, #apricotpreserves, #pecans & streusel topping. #cookie #apricots
Pecan Cheesecake Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Pecan Cheesecake Bars

Teresa Ambra
Pecan Cheesecake Bars are absolutely awesome! This delicious bar starts with a butter pecan cake mix. It has a cheesecake filling and is topped with reserved cake mix and chopped pecans. This is a delightful treat during the holidays, but it's an exceptionally good dessert any time of the year.
3.90 from 10 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 161 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 2 wooden spoons
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 nut chopper unless your pecans are already chopped
  • 1 spatula

Ingredients
  

CRUST:

  • 1 box Betty Crocker butter pecan cake mix reserve 1 cup cake mix for topping
  • 1/3 cup canola oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg

CHEESECAKE FILLING:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

TOPPING:

  • 1 cup reserved butter pecan cake mix
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped (measure after chopping)

Instructions
 

CRUST:

  • Reserve 1 cup of cake mix for later.
  • Mix remaining cake mix, oil, and egg until crumbly.
  • Pat into 9×13” cooking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  • (This is a gooey mixture.)
  • Bake 15 minutes at 350°.

CHEESECAKE FILLING:

  • Beat together ingredients in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and smooth.
  • Spread over baked layer.

TOPPING:

  • Sprinkle reserved butter pecan cake mix over top of cream cheese layer.
  • Add chopped nuts.
  • Bake 15 minutes longer.
  • When cool, cut into bars.

Notes

NOTE: Quite frankly, you don’t need more than about 1/2 cup of reserved cake mix to sprinkle over the top. So if you prefer less of the dry cake mix on top, consider reserving only 1/2 cup cake mix for the topping.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 222mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 1mg
Keyword butter pecan cake mix, cheesecake, cookies, dessert, pecan cheesecake bars, pecans
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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3.90 from 10 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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