July 30: New York Cheesecake Bars

New York Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3 oz) unsalted butter, melted

Filling
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon orange extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line a 9x13 metal pan with nonstick foil.
2. Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter and stir until moist, then transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it down to make a crust.
3. Make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar until well mixed. By hand or using the lowest speed of the mixer, stir in the eggs, milk, lemon juice, vanilla, and orange extract. Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 25-30 minutes. The cheesecake might puff up, but it should settle as it cools and chills. Let cool in the pan and then chill thoroughly - 3 hours is okay, but overnight is better.

Crust ingredients

Filling ingredients

Addition of eggs, milk and extracts

Before the oven

After the oven

Thoughts: Very very easy recipe. I'm not crazy about orange extract so I was a little nervous trying it, but you can barely taste it. It was very good. The only change I would think about is making the crust a little thicker.