Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Published February 17, 2012, updated August 2, 2023

PREP 15 minutes
COOK 45 minutes
Jump to RecipeSave This Recipe

Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars! Nutella Caramel is swirled throughout rich and creamy cheesecake baked atop a buttery shortbread crust.

One of my favorite bloggers, Jessica at The Novice Chef, has a category of recipes on her blog called “Ass Friendly” {meaning healthy or low calorie, in case you didn’t pick up on that}. It’s one of the many reasons why I love reading her stuff. {Plus, I’m pretty sure she likes wine as much as I do. Which is a lot. Instant bond.}

Anyway, if Jessica’s healthy recipes are considered “Ass Friendly”, then the recipe I’m about to share with you would be part of the polar opposite category we’ll call “Ass Hostile”. Except that sounds absolutely terrible and a bit like an adjective that would be used to describe a horrible virus you might get if you don’t wash your hands. So, let’s go with “Elastic Waistband Friendly” instead. In short, this is to be enjoyed in moderation.

Remember that Nutella Caramel Sauce I posted a few days ago? Well, I had a lot left over. And since I know I am not to be trusted with large quantities of anything even remotely related to Nutella, I had to find a way to use it up fast.

And so, Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars were born.

These little babies are rich. Buttery. Sweet. They are unassumingly dangerous. And one too many will bring the elastic waistband pants out of their drawer. So share. {Even though you won’t want to.}

They’ve got a brown sugar shortbread crust, a not-too-thin, not-too-thick layer of cheesecake, and of course… a seductive swirl of Nutella Caramel running throughout.

Good stuff. And by good, I mean bad. Very, very bad.

So, get some Ass Friendly recipes from Jessica’s blog, and then come back here when you want to treat yourself for all the healthy eating you’ve done. These bars will be waiting. 😉

Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars! Nutella Caramel is swirled throughout rich and creamy cheesecake baked atop a buttery shortbread crust.
Course Dessert
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Author Dianna Muscari

Ingredients  

For crust:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • sticks butter cut into small pieces

For Cheesecake:

  • 16 ounces block cream cheese
  • cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • ½ cup Nutella Caramel Sauce

Instructions 

For Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine sugar and flour. Using paddle attachment, (or with a pastry blender or fork by hand) incorporate pieces of butter until the mixture is crumbly – it should hold its shape when a clump is pinched.
  • Press mixture evenly into parchment-lined baking pan.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes until crust is slightly golden. Set aside.

For Cheesecake Filling

  • In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar until fluffy and incorporated. Add egg, and beat until combined.
  • Add vanilla and Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and mix until smooth. Pour into crust.
  • Spoon globs of Nutella caramel sauce onto cheesecake batter, dotting throughout the mixture. With a skewer, toothpick, or tip of a knife, carefully swirl caramel throughout cheesecake to create marbleized effect.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, until filling is just set. (It will wobble slightly but should not be too wet.) If caramel is cooking too rapidly or becoming too bubbly, cover lightly with a sheet of foil for the last 10 minutes.
  • Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate and let cool completely before cutting into bars.

22 comments

  • Omg, I'm lol-ing over here, Dianna! Too funny- especially the ass-hostile part. <– No, that sounds dangerous. But the bars look phenomenal! Love the cheesecake/Nutella combo 😉

  • This is so beautiful and I’m sure it’s all super delicious! Looks so pretty, so good and sounds so awesome!
    Home Chef

  • A

    @Danny – Thank you! The use of Greek yogurt is sort of "in vain" as there are copious amounts of sugar & butter in this, but it does make it a little better in my brain to know that I saved a handful of calories. 😉 I do the exact same thing with Nutella… it doesn't last long in my house!

  • Dianna, I love that you use greek yogurt in this to make it healthier. I'm such a Nutella fanatic that you have to keep it away from me or I'll eat it all up with a spoon and never bake with it. This sounds great with the caramel combo – yummmm!

  • @Loretta – Haha! That's so sweet! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!

  • This is absolutely GORGEOUS! I want to print it and put it on the wall of a coffee shop or something.

  • WOW. Those look sinfully delicious in the most delightful way possible! Awesome job with the Willow Bird challenges, and amazingly innovative cheesecake.

    • Thanks, Shelley! They are definitely a sinful treat for special occasions! And thanks for checking out my creations for the Challenge! 🙂

  • You are a LIFE SAVER.

    I had a horrible recollection this morning that I have to have a cheesecake or some other dairy dessert made by tonight for a Jewish shindig.

    I had no idea what I was going to make until I saw this on Foodgawker. I have half a jar of Nutella that I need to get out of my apartment, because I still have an unopened bag of pretzels in my possession as well. Now, I can make my dairy dessert, AND save myself from blacking out and finishing the jar. Thanks, girl!

    P.S. Love your blog. Literally laughed out loud while reading it. Being filed on my favorites bar? I think yes.

    • Yay! I'm so glad I could help with both coming up with a dessert idea AND avoiding certain Nutella destruction! Nutella and pretzels is one of my absolute favorite snacking combos, too. I know how hard it can be to put down the jar & "just say no". Haha!

      Thanks so much for the sweet comment, so glad you stopped by! Please let me know how everyone at the shindig likes the bars! 🙂

  • I was just browsing some food porn on pinterest and found these! This is happening this weekend. I think that ass hostile maybe the funniest thing I have read on a food blog, ever. Thanks for sharing this glorious recipe!

    • I NEVER thought those two words would appear side by side in a food blog… but they did. Haha! Please let me know how yours turn out {and start deciding right now who you will be sharing them with or you will definitely run the risk of eating them all yourself}! Thanks for reading, Katrina! 🙂

  • Thank you, Dori! I am a huge Nutella fan as well… as I'm sure you might have been able to tell. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!

  • pinning this to my must makes, even thought it's ass hostile 😀 😀 😀

  • Oh wow these look amazinging. I love nutella!

  • Hi Julie! Thanks so much… they are indeed delicious & a wonderful treat for a "calorie splurge". 😉 Would love to know how you like them when you get around to making them! P.S. I took a peek at your blog & can't wait to have time to sit down and browse.. looks fantastic!

  • Wow. These look absolutely amazing. I'll pin them to make later when I'm self-loathing 🙂

  • looks so tasty!! such pretty work with the swirls.

  • Looks so intriguing! I cannot resist those swirls, girl! Will have to try this…i don't mind the little bulges as long as I get to bite this heavenly treats! Thanks for sharing!

    • I agree. Some treats are worth an extra pound or two! 😉 Plus, I always think about the fact that I'm burning calories with all the hours I log on my feet in the kitchen, so it's got to counteract some of those little bulges & dimples… right? 😉 Thanks for reading & enjoy!

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Hi, I’m Dianna! I share elevated yet easy recipes and effortless entertaining ideas that help you cook with confidence and host with joy. Around here, fresh ingredients, thoughtful details, and warm hospitality make every meal feel special. I’m so glad you’re here!

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