Gingerbread Man Cheesecake Bars
These Gingerbread Man Cheesecake Bars are the perfect treat this holiday season. Rich, creamy gingerbread cheesecake bars are topped with whipped cream and gingerbread man sprinkles for a classic holiday flavor with a fun presentation.
As you might have noticed, we love making holiday-themed treats, and we tend to make the most during the Christmas season. These delicious gingerbread cheesecake bars are our newest addition to our holly, jolly rotation, and we can’t wait for you to try them!
Table of contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses basic ingredients found in any kitchen or grocery store.
- Easy: These are simple cheesecake bars that even beginners will have no trouble with.
- Classic Holiday Flavor: Every bite explodes with sweet, tangy gingerbread cheesecake flavor.
- Festive: The gingerbread man sprinkles give these bars a fun, festive look.
🛒Ingredients
You’ll only need a few basic baking ingredients to make this easy recipe. We’ve listed them all here, but you’ll find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
Crust
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Unsalted butter – melted
- Sugar
- Monin gingerbread syrup
Filling
- Cream cheese – softened
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Monin gingerbread syrup
- Gingerbread cookies – crumbled
Topping
- Cool Whip
- Gingerbread man sprinkles
🔪 How to Make Gingerbread Man Cheesecake Bars
Making these gingerbread cheesecake bars is a simple, straightforward process. Just follow the directions, and you’ll have delicious cheesecake bars in no time!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: Make the Crust
Mix all the crust ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. Then, press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Make the Filling
Beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the vanilla, eggs, and gingerbread syrup and beat until combined. Gently fold in the crumbled gingerbread cookies.
Step 4: Bake
Pour the filling into the crust and spread it out evenly. Then, bake it for 30 to 35 minutes until the edges are set, and the center is slightly jiggly.
Step 5: Cool
Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Then, chill it for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Step 6: Top and Slice
Top the cooled cheesecake with Cool Whip and Gingerbread man sprinkles, then slice and serve.
📝Variations
- Graham Crackers: Use honey, cinnamon, or chocolate graham crackers to slightly change the flavor of the crust.
- Extracts: Use different extracts to make different cheesecake bar flavors for other occasions.
- Chocolate Crust: Try crushed Oreos for a decadent chocolate crust.
If you love richly-flavored cheesecake bars like these, then try our Nutella cheesecake bars.
🥄 Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- 8×8 baking dish
- Parchment paper
🥫 Storage
Refrigerate these cheesecake bars in a covered container for up to 5 days. For longer storage, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
Defrost the bars overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
What to Serve with Gingerbread Man Cheesecake Bars
Serve these bars with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. Hot chocolate is also a wonderful pairing. Of course, they also make the perfect addition to a larger holiday dessert table with pies, cookies, brownies, cakes, and any of your other favorite.
💭 Tips
- Fully soften your cream cheese for the best cheesecake texture.
- Mix your cheesecake batter until fully combined, but don’t overwork it.
- 2 hours is the minimum chilling time for these cheesecake bars. Overnight is even better!
- Be sure to spread the cheesecake batter out evenly with a spatula before baking. It’s thick and won’t self-level.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Gingerbread is not actually a bread. Rather, it’s almost any baked good flavored with a blend of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
The most common reason cheesecakes collapse is not one that many people think of. Overworking the batter can incorporate too much air into the cheesecake. This causes it to rise too much, then collapse as it deflates.
Cheesecake has a high level of moisture. The longer it stays in the freezer, the more ice crystals form. For the first month, it’s unnoticeable. However, after a month, the ice crystals become so numerous that the cheesecake develops a grainy texture.
🍽 More Recipes
Do you enjoy gingerbread? Then try these delicious recipes.
- 3D Gingerbread Trees
- Slow Cooker Gingerbread Cake
- Gingerbread Cookie Cups with Gream Cheese Frosting
🧾Recipe Card
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe so you can find it later.
Gingerbread Man Cheesecake Bars
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
- 8×8 baking dish
- parchment paper
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon gingerbread syrup
For the Filling:
- 16 ounces 2 blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons Monin gingerbread syrup
- 5 gingerbread cookies crumbled (any brand)
For the Topping:
- Cool Whip or whipped cream
- Gingerbread man sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and gingerbread syrup until well combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a crust layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract, eggs, and gingerbread syrup, and beat again until fully combined.
- Gently fold in the crumbled gingerbread cookies.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the crust, spreading it out evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle.
- Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Slice into bars, top with Cool Whip or whipped cream, and sprinkle with gingerbread man sprinkles for a festive touch. Enjoy these sweet, spiced treats!
