Best Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars Recipe

These irresistible cheesecake bars are like traditional cheesecake’s cool kid sister, and she’s invited to your holiday party this year. These bars perfectly balance creamy, rich cheesecake with the tartness of fresh cranberries and the nuttiness and warmth of a pecan streusel topping with none of the labor-intensity of traditional cheesecake.

In this recipe, the cheesecake filling rests in a simple graham cracker crust, and swirls of homemade cranberry sauce weave their way through each bar, adding a burst of flavor and a beautiful marbled effect that makes them almost too pretty to eat—almost. Fresh orange juice and zest bring the cranberry sauce to life and add another layer of brightness and complexity to the bars. The streusel topping, made from a mix of pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon, adds a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy cheesecake filling.

If you like, you can simplify this recipe further by using 1 (14-oz.) can of whole berry cranberry sauce rather than making homemade cranberry compote.

Whether you’re making them for a holiday gathering, a potluck, or just because you deserve a delicious treat, these cozy bars are sure to impress. If you’re lucky enough to have any left over, they’ll be amazing with your coffee in the morning; store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

Did you try making these? Let us know how it went in the comments!