I HEART vanilla bean cheesecake bars!

How does one humble wife let their dear husband know how much they love them? By vanilla bean cheesecake bars of course! I can't take all the credit. I wanted to make vanilla cheesecake, but I wanted it to be easy and in a large pan so I could use my heart-shaped cookie cutter. Thanks to Baking Bites I found just what I needed. I made a few adjustments and they really truly won the love of my husband and I.

Vanilla Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients (crust):
1/3 cup Sugar
1 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Butter
1/2 cup Crushed Pecans (this is my addition because I had some)
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract ( vanilla sugar would of been better, but I was doing it inexpensively)

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (or used the Baker’s Edge).
Begin by making the crust. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until smooth and fluffy. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour, pecans ,and salt until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into prepared pan and bake for 15-17 minutes. While crust is baking prepare filling.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of half and half or light cream
2 (8oz.) pkgs of cream cheese
3 large eggs room temperature
1/2 vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. ( I went to purchase vanilla bean and decided it was too pricey)
1 Tablespoon all purpose flour.

Directions:
Combine sugar, half & half and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Add in eggs one at a time, waiting until each in incorporated before adding the next. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixture (or add extract) and add the flour. Pulse until smooth.
Pour the filling over the hot crust when it has finished baking. Return pan to oven and bake for 23-26 minutes, until the filling is set (baking time should be reduced slightly if using a 9×13-inch, as the filling will be slightly thinner) and not jiggly.
Cool completely before slicing (don’t be alarmed if the cheesecake appears to deflate somewhat as it cools), or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Makes 20-24 bars.
Once cooled I used my heart-shaped cookie cutter and topped with whipped cream, bananas, and strawberries.










It never hurts to show the neighbors some love and give them a slice too! I almost hoped they weren't home so there was more for me. My thighs thank them for being home.