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Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars

These Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars start with a perfect graham cracker crust, and finish with a rich, creamy layer of Nutella-marbled cheesecake. What a treat!

Overhead view of stacked Nutella swirl cheesecake bars

Easy Marble Cheesecake Bars

Of all the things I’ve made with Nutella—Nutella Banana Bread, Nutella Pie, and even Nutella Oatmeal Skillet Cookies—I’ve somehow never combined it with another of my true loves, cheesecake. The fact that I have allowed that to happen is a terrible mistake on my part. However, I feel that I have properly atoned with these cheesecake bars.

I pieced together this recipe for Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars from a few different recipes from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion, which is a must-have for all of you cookie and bar bakers out there. 

The combination of Nutella and cheesecake is one I wish I’d tried long before now, although if you’re in that small population of people who don’t like Nutella, you can always swirl some fruit preserves into the cheesecake instead. (I suppose you can do that even if you do like Nutella.) 

But, if you’re like me, you just don’t pass up a chance to have a little of that fabulous chocolate-hazelnut spread—especially when it’s swirled with rich, creamy cheesecake.

Overhead view of Nutella swirl cheesecake bar ingredients

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

For the Crust:

  • Graham cracker crumbs – Pulse whole graham crackers in your food processor to make crumbs, or simply buy a package of crumbs from the baking section of the grocery store.
  • Unsalted butter – Learn more: Unsalted or Salted Butter: Which is Better for Baking?
  • All-purpose flour – Learn more: How to Measure Flour
  • Brown sugar – This is a recipe where both light or dark brown sugar will work, so use whichever you have on hand or prefer.

For the Filling:

  • Cream cheese – It’s important to use blocks of full-fat cream cheese, not the kind that comes in tubs.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract – Use store-bought or homemade vanilla extract.
  • Nutella – Or another brand of chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Can I Substitute Chocolate for Nutella?

Not in this recipe; solid chocolate won’t give you marbling and melted chocolate won’t marble as well as Nutella. You can substitute another brand of chocolate hazelnut spread, or if you have a nut allergy, a seed butter made with chocolate. Other options include fruit preserves or cookie butter.

Stack of 3 Nutella swirl cheesecake bars

How to Make Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars

These Nutella Swirl Cheesecake bars are much easier than your typical cheesecake recipe. There’s no water bath required, nor do you have to leave the cheesecake in the oven for a period of time after turning it off.

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9″x 13″x 2″ baking pan with butter or cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy bar removal.

Make the crust mixture. Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, flour, and brown sugar in a medium bowl until combined. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan.

Overhead view of graham cracker crust in 9x13 pan

Bake the crust. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the crust is set and golden brown.

Make the cheesecake mixture. Use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat the cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl until they’re smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

Assemble. Spread the filling over the crust, then drop spoonfuls of Nutella over the top of the filling. Use a butter knife to marble the Nutella into the cheesecake.

Overhead view of Nutella swirl cheesecake bars in pan

Bake. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the filling is just set. 

Cool and chill. Let the bars cool for about an hour, then refrigerate them until they’re completely chilled and firm before cutting and serving.

Overhead view of Nutella swirl cheesecake bars

Tips for Success

If you’re a newer baker, I recommend reading over my baking tips for beginners. Here are a few additional tips for these Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars:

  • Don’t overmix the cheesecake. Overmixing will incorporate too much air into the cheesecake mixture, which has the potential to cause cracks after baking.
  • Don’t overmix the Nutella, either! If you’re a little overzealous when you swirl the Nutella into the cheesecake, you’ll simply turn the cheesecake brown instead of making a marble pattern.
  • Plan for chilling. Be sure to plan your baking so that you’ll have time for the bars to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. While cookies and muffins are delicious warm, cheesecake doesn’t have the same appeal fresh out of the oven!
Nutella swirl cheesecake bar on side

Variations

You can use Oreos, vanilla wafers, or chocolate wafers to make crumbs for the crust instead of graham crackers. Although these Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars are delicious as-is, you can serve them garnished with whipped cream, fresh berries, or your favorite hazelnut chocolates.

Stack of 3 Nutella swirl cheesecake bars with 2 raspberries on top

How to Store

These Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll keep for up to 5 days.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

You can freeze Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars for up to 3 months. Store them in an airtight container or wrap them individually. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Nutella swirl cheesecake bar with bite taken out of corner

More Crowd-Pleasing Cheesecake Bars

Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Yield 24 2-inch bars
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 32 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes

Rich cheesecake and Nutella are swirled together to create these beautifully marbled cheesecake bars!

Stack of 3 Nutella swirl cheesecake bars

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 & 1/2 cups (150g) graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (50g) firmly packed brown sugar

For the filling:

  • 16 ounces (454g) cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup (70g) Nutella

Instructions

To make the crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9″x 13″ baking pan.
  2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, flour, and brown sugar until combined. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  3. Bake 10 minutes or until set and lightly browned.

To make the filling:

  1. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.
  2. Spread the filling evenly over the partially baked crust. Drop the Nutella over the top of the filling. Using a knife, swirl the Nutella into the filling.
  3. Bake 20-22 minutes, or until the filling is just set. Cool for about an hour. Then, refrigerate until completely chilled and firm before cutting into bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion.

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    30 Comments on “Nutella Swirl Cheesecake Bars”

  1. Ooooemmmmgeeee! Two wonderfully decadent things in one treat, how could these not be amazing?! I pinned this recipe, I know it’ll be a popular one 🙂

  2. These bars look so decadent that I want to stop studying for midterms and make them instead! I, too, have made the mistake of not combining cheesecake and Nutella. That will be solved immediately with these bars. Thank you for sharing!

  3. This is all of my favorite things in the world combined into one dessert. Seriously. Amazing.

  4. This looks dangerous. Seriously dangerous. Thank you! 🙂

  5. These bars look addictive – cheesecake and nutella together is very addictive 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Microwave Fruity Syrup Oat Cake

  6. Va-va Vooooom!!!
    You make me happy again 🙂
    I have to make these. Now. WOW!
    Thank you for inspiring me with your amazing recipes…

  7. I have a problem with Nutella, I am crazy about it!!!!!!!! And cheescake is great too so I can totally see this, it sounds great!!

  8. This is the type of dessert I could just eat from the pan with a spoon. Seriously.

  9. That does sound like a good combination

  10. Cheesecake and nutella? Yes please. Right now.

  11. I can’t believe you’ve never made Nutella cheesecake before. Possibly God’s gift to the dessert world 🙂

  12. Great idea! genius! I think I’m going to use this idea. Everyone loves Nutella!!
    Thanks!!!

  13. Is it me or does this look like the most amazing froth on top of a great coffee. Cheesecake + nutella. Like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches, its just good!!!

  14. I’ve done some this saturday. It was absolutly delicious and my family loved it! Thank you

  15. These look so gorgeous! Can’t wait to try them tonight 🙂

  16. Fabulous idea and looks so delicious. On my list to try!

  17. This is seriously looking to be my downfall! Anything with cream cheese… and paired with Nutella. Are you kidding me??? The next time I make these, the whole pan minus 1 (well, maybe 2 or 3) will be going to the neighbors!!!

  18. WOW! I love Nutella! Great post…

  19. These sound amazing – thanks for sharing!

  20. That looks awesome! I will definitely try! Nutella can be so good in desserts!

  21. i made these last weekend and loved them, but I’m wondering if you have any suggestions for dropping, swirling the nutella? I found that part difficult. Thank you!

    • Emily, I found it worked best if I dropped the Nutella in very small dollops all over the top. Larger dollops are a bit too hard to swirl effectively.

  22. Made these for my nephew’s birthday. He loves Nutella. Huge success! Delicious!!!!

  23. These look delicious! Just wondered – If I wanted to make these in an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 pan, would I half the recipe? /thank you!

  24. I stubbled upon this blog yesterday and I was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t decide what to try first and when I came across this recipe(Who in the world doesn’t love Nutella and cheesecake?) I could not resist. I made a mad dash to the store to pick up cream cheese and got to work. The directions were clear and easy to follow and everything came together so well!! My house smelled amazing and these are simply divine! Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is a new family favorite. I can’t wait to try other recipes!

  25. I make a Nutella pie with only nutella and 5 eggs, I think adding cream cheese to the recipe would be great! In fact I am headed to my kitchen now to make it!!!😁

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