graham cracker crust – Who needs a diet?

The first time I ever had cheesecake was this blueberry cheesecake at Delhi’s famous Big Chill Cafe. It was the first of its kind in Delhi and that place made me fall in love with a variety of cheese desserts, including an Oreo Mouse Cheesecake – it was rich, had a soft and velvety texture and lay on an oreo crust topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Since I miss these cheesecakes, I decided to try and make a version of a cheesecake that also allowed me to use an ingredient that is part of my current obsession – pumpkin. These cheesecake bars are not as thick as traditional cheesecakes, making it possible to have small bites instead of having 400 calories in one sitting. The recipe also uses whole-milk yogurt or full-fat Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream, making it even lighter.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars on an Oreo Crust

Recipe adapted from Texanerin Baking

Ingredients

For the graham cracker crust

12 full-size graham crackers (about 6 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup (2 ounces) sugar, optional
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) butter
1/4 cup (2 ounces) water, optional

For the cheesecake:

7 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
⅓ cup (75 grams) light brown sugar (though you can use granulated white sugar as well)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1⅓ cups pumpkin puree
¼ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon fresh ginger

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).

For the crust:

See instructions on how to make a graham cracker crust.

For the cheesecake:

With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
Add the eggs and mix until combined.
Add the remaining cheesecake ingredients and mix just until combined. If there are still clumps of cheesecake remaining, blend the mixture together to make sure it is smooth.
Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 35 minutes or until the middle of the cheesecake bars appears set and no longer jiggles when you move the pan.
Open the oven door and let the bars cool completely before removing from the oven. This is to prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
Cover and store the bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars on a Graham Cracker Crust

Isn’t it easier to buy a graham cracker crust than to just make one? Yes, it is, but also, no, it barely takes 5 minutes to make one, and the homemade one turns out crunchier. So next time you’re thinking of making a pie, try making the crust at home and notice the difference. Those extra 5-10 minutes will be well worth it. You can even store unbaked pie crusts in your freezer for months, so it’s easy to prep ahead.

Ingredients

12 full-size graham crackers (about 6 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup (2 ounces) sugar, optional
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional (I didn’t add any because I bought cinnamon-flavored graham crackers)
6 tablespoons (3 ounces) butter
1/4 cup (2 ounces) water, optional

Instructions

1. Crumble the Graham Crackers: Place all the crackers in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin until broken into fine crumbs. You should end up with about 2 cups total of graham cracker crumbs. (I just crushed them in a plastic bag- super easy!)

2. Combine with Butter: Transfer the graham crackers to a bowl. Melt the butter and pour over the graham crackers. Stir until the crumbs are evenly coated and look wet. The crumbs should hold together in a clump if you press them in your fist; if not, add water a tablespoon at a time until this happens.

3. Press into a Pie Pan: Pour the crumbs into a 9-inch pie pan and press them evenly along the bottoms and sides.

4. Bake the Crust: I haven’t baked many pies, but from what I read/see, it appears that pre-baking your crust for around 5-10 minutes without the filling ensures that the pie crust gets set and does not mess with the filling. I did end up pre-baking it for 5-7 minutes and then later when I baked it with the filling, it came out perfect.

Pre-baking the pie crust for 5 minutes

5. Let cool, pour filling – Once it has been pre-baked and has acquired a slight brown color, let it cool completely before putting in the filling. Bake according to pie instructions.