Squash Cheesecake Bars
Recipe from EatingWell

Pureed winter squash gives most of the body to these leaner cheesecake bars.


Squash Cheesecake Bars


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Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 4 hrs
Servings: 18 bars
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Ingredients
 
savings in
 
  • 9    low-fat graham crackers, (4 1/2 ounces)On Sale
  • 1/2  cup  old-fashioned rolled oats, (not quick-cooking or steel-cut)On Sale
  • 2  tablespoons plus 1/2 cup  sugar, dividedOn Sale
  • 1/4  cup plus 3 tablespoons  all-purpose flour, dividedOn Sale
  • 2  tablespoons  unsalted butterOn Sale
  • 3  tablespoons  nonfat milkOn Sale
  • 8  ounces  nonfat cream cheese, at room temperatureOn Sale
  • 8  ounces  reduced-fat cream cheese, (Neufchatel), at room temperatureOn Sale
  • 1/2  cup  squash pureeOn Sale
  • 2    large eggsOn Sale
  • 1  teaspoon  vanilla extractOn Sale
  • 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamonOn Sale
  • 1/4  teaspoon  saltOn Sale

Directions
1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray
2.
Process graham crackers, oats, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 cup flour and butter in a food processor until finely ground. Add milk; pulse until completely moistened.
3.
Transfer the graham cracker mixture to the prepared pan and evenly pat into the bottom. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
4.
Meanwhile, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees . Beat both cream cheeses and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy, scraping down the sides occasionally. Beat in squash puree until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Finally, beat in vanilla, cinnamon, salt and the remaining 3 tablespoons flour. Scrape the filling into the pan, spreading evenly over the crust.
5.
Bake until set and the edges are light brown, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.

Tips:
To make your own squash puree, halve and seed one medium acorn or butternut squash. Place, cut-side down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven until soft, about 50 minutes. Cool, then scrape out the flesh with a fork. Or simply use frozen (thawed) or canned squash puree. Find frozen squash puree near other vegetables in the freezer section and canned squash near the canned pumpkin.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Nutrition information
Calories 146, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 37 mg, Sodium 209 mg, Carbohydrate 18 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 5 g, Potassium 79 mg. Exchanges: Starch 1,Fat 1. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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