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Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars are rich, creamy, gooey, and absolutely delicious! Add a bit of salt on top for an additional burst of flavor.

sliced Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars on a white plate

Rich, Creamy Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

There are so many great flavors in baking that it’s difficult to narrow down to a few favorites. But I can confidently say that dulce de leche ranks very highly for me. I find its rich, caramel-like flavor irresistible!

Add that wonderful flavor to cheesecake, and I’m 100% on board. And that’s exactly the situation we have with these Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars.

overhead view of sliced Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

Not only does the cheesecake itself have a good dose of dulce de leche mixed into it, but there’s a rich dulce de leche topping as well. Oh, it’s good. Seriously good.

If you’re a sweet and salty fan, don’t skip the sprinkle of coarse salt on top of these bars. That little added saltiness turns these into something extra special.

ingredients for Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars, including cream cheese, dulce de leche, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar

What You’ll Need

You’ll be making three components for these Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars: a crust, filling, and glaze.

For the Graham Cracker Crust:

  • Graham cracker crumbs: A food processor works well to make crumbs from graham crackers, but any method that makes fine crumbs is fine.
  • Sugar: For a hint of sweetness.
  • Ground cinnamon: A hint of cinnamon pairs very well with the dulce de leche in the filling and topping.
  • Unsalted butter: Melt the butter either on the stovetop or in the microwave.

For the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Filling:

  • Cream cheese: Full-fat cream cheese works best. Be sure to bring it to room temperature for a smooth filling.
  • Sugar: For sweetness and texture.
  • Eggs: Use 3 large eggs for structure and flavor.
  • Dulce de leche: For big-time flavor! Look for it near the condensed milk, in the international foods section, or with the ice cream toppings.
  • Vanilla extract: For flavor.

For the Dulce de Leche Glaze:

  • Dulce de leche: This is why we’re here, right?
  • Heavy cream: For a smooth, creamy texture.
  • Coarse salt (optional): I most often use sea salt, but any coarse salt is fine. A little goes a long way, so a few big pinches will probably do the trick. It adds a salty bite that’s irresistible!
overhead view of cheesecake bars on a marble surface

How to Make Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

Despite making three separate components, these cheesecake bars come together easily. You’ll need three mixing bowls, a stand or hand mixer, and mixing spoons to make each part.

Preheat the oven and prepare the pan. Heat the oven to 350°F. You’ll need a 9″ x 13″ x 2″ baking pan for these cheesecake bars. Grease the pan your preferred way. If you like, you can line the pan with parchment paper and grease the lining. A lining makes it easy to remove the bars from the pan for slicing and serving.

Make the crust. Simply combine the ingredients and press into the prepared pan. Bake briefly, and then set the pan aside to cool while you make the filling.

Make the filling. Cheesecake fillings are usually very easy to make, and this one is no exception. After mixing the cream cheese and sugar, mix in the eggs. Then add the dulce de leche and vanilla, and mix until smooth.

Bake the filling. After transferring the batter to the partially baked crust, spread it evenly. Then bake the cheesecake bars for 38-42 minutes. You’ll know the bars are baked when the center is set (doesn’t jiggle) and the edges are puffed and slightly cracked.

Make the glaze. The topping is a simple combination of dulce de leche and cream. Heat those ingredients in the microwave to get a smooth, spreadable mixture. After the cheesecake bars have cooled, pour the glaze over the cheesecake and spread it evenly.

Add the salt. This is optional, but the addition of some coarse salt on top makes these bars a sweet and salty favorite!

Chill the cooled cheesecake. Cover the cheesecake and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to give it time to set. Keep in mind that the glaze will not become firm.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars on parchment paper

Tips for Success

  • Use a light-colored metal baking pan. The bars will bake more evenly and thoroughly with this type of pan.
  • Bring the cream cheese to room temperature. Properly softened cream cheese will make the smoothest filling.
  • Don’t skip the chill time. That refrigerator time will help the bars set and turn them into a cool, creamy treat.
  • Use a thin, sharp knife for slicing. Cut straight down without a sawing motion. Wipe off the knife between cuts.
sliced Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bar

How to Store Leftovers

Keep these Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars covered and refrigerated. They should keep for about 3 days if stored this way.

If you’re making these bars in advance, you may want to wait to add the salt until serving time. Otherwise, it can disappear into the glaze. The salty flavor will still be there, but you lose the visual appeal.

How to Freeze Cheesecake Bars

Wrap the cooled cheesecake bars in plastic wrap. Then add another layer of protection by wrapping in aluminum foil. I often place the slices in a freezer bag as well for ease of storage.

The bars should keep in the freezer for about two months. (Be sure to label them with the name and date!) When you’re ready to enjoy your cheesecake bars, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or for 2-3 hours at room temperature.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars

Yield 24 bars
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 52 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 22 minutes

Rich Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars are completely irresistible! Made with a sweet graham cracker crust and creamy dulce de leche filling/glaze!

sliced Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars on a white plate

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 2 & 1/4 cups (225g) graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 10 tablespoons (141g) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

  • 24 ounces (680g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (150g) dulce de leche
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the glaze:

  • 2/3 cup (200g) dulce de leche
  • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • sea salt, optional

Instructions

To make the crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9"x 13"x 2" baking pan. If you like, you can line the pan with parchment paper and grease the lining.
  2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter. Stir until combined.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

To make the filling:

  1. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the dulce de leche and vanilla.
  2. Spread the batter evenly over the partially baked, cooled crust. Bake 38-42 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges are puffed and slightly cracked. Cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the glaze:

  1. Place the dulce de leche and cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 10-second intervals until melted. Stir until blended. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add more cream, a teaspoonful at a time, until pourable.
  2. Pour the glaze over the cooled cheesecake. Spread evenly. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled. (Note that the glaze will not become firm.)
  3. Cut into bars. Sprinkle with sea salt, if using.

Notes

Dulce de leche can be found in most supermarkets. Look near the condensed milk or in the specialty foods section. I used most of a 15.85 ounce jar. 

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

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    12 Comments on “Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Bars”

  1. Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. I like EASY & dulce-de-leche is a flavor I love.

  2. I could never give up either of them, Id probably go crazy. Love these bars!

  3. you know it is so time for me to finally do a dulce de leche cheesecake.
    with all the cheesecakes i’ve done, i haven’t done this.
    that photo, oh Jen I’m on a diet (lost 20 pounds so far), and that one photo has me wanting sugar so badly!

  4. Seriously good is an understatement.

  5. I made these tonight for a party. Came home with an empty pan. They were awesome. I’ll make them again. Easy but great!

  6. I totally couldn’t give up cheese! and this recipe is another reason to stay in the Cheese over Chocolate Camp!

  7. If I do decide to add sea salt to the top, how much do you think I should add? Big fan of your blog, by the way! 🙂

  8. Hi, Bryan! A little sea salt can go a long way. I’d start with 1/4 teaspoon. You can always add a little more if you want them saltier.

  9. I made this cheesecake earlier today and just had a piece, and it is something else! I made it for my husband, who’s a cheesecake nut and he was over the moon about it. My only complaint is that I probably left it in the oven for a tad too long, because the sides came out a little too brown for my liking. But that could have been because of the dark color of my pan. Anyway, we still have tons left over to enjoy!

  10. Thanks for posting such a delicious recipe! Do you think it could be made in a springform and sliced like a whole cheesecake?

  11. Whoa, whoa, whoa….cheese or chocolate?! Neither is impossible, it just can’t happen!

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