Love My Philly

These cheesecake bars are so charming! This just gave me a nifty idea for the kids to do to celebrate the patriotic holiday. I can pre-make cheesecake bars and cut them using the star shaped cookie cutters and have various sprinkles, jells, and other toppings! If you’re serving for a bigger crowd (more than 12 people at least), you can cut the cheesecake into 24 bars instead of the star shapes. This method will make 24 servings, 1 bar each.

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 3 hr 50 min
Makes: About 1-1/2 doz. stars or 16 servings, about 1 star each
Nutritional Information

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
3 Tbsp. red, white and blue decorating gels
3 Tbsp. red, white and blue sprinkles

Instructions

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan to form handles; set aside. Mix graham crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. sugar; press firmly onto bottom of 13×9-inch baking pan.

BEAT cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 30 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Remove cheesecake from pan, using foil handles. Cut into shapes using a medium star-shaped cookie cutter. Decorate with gels and sprinkles as desired. Store in refrigerator.