The elegant White Russian cocktail is the delectable inspiration for these cheesecake bars loaded with espresso liqueur and cream. We added velvety black cocoa to the combo to create the tuxedo of dessert bars: at all times stylish, by no means out of fashion.
Creamy White Russian Bars
Makes 32 bars
- Black Cocoa Shortcrust (recipe follows)
- 3 (8-ounce) packages (680 grams) cream cheese, room temperature and divided
- ¼ cup (60 grams) espresso liqueur*
- 2½ teaspoons (5 grams) dark-roast instantaneous espresso granules
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons (16 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons (12 grams) vanilla extract, divided
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 massive eggs (100 grams), room temperature
- ¼ cup (60 grams) heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) black cocoa powder
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Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray a 13×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with parchment paper, letting extra lengthen nearly to prime of pan.
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Let Black Cocoa Shortcrust stand at room temperature till barely softened, 10 to fifteen minutes, if obligatory. Switch dough to ready pan, urgent to cowl backside of pan. High with a bit of parchment paper, letting extra lengthen over edges of pan. Add pie weights.
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Bake till edges are set and crust is aromatic, 15 to twenty minutes. Fastidiously take away parchment and weights. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 25 minutes. Depart oven on.
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Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 2 packages (454 grams) cream cheese at medium velocity till clean and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl.
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In a small bowl, stir collectively liqueur and instantaneous espresso till granules dissolve. Add liqueur combination, ¾ cup (150 grams) sugar, flour, ¾ teaspoon (3 grams) vanilla, and salt to cream cheese; beat till effectively mixed, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one by one, beating simply till mixed after every addition. Pour cream cheese combination onto ready crust, spreading into a fair layer with a small offset spatula. Gently faucet sides of pan a number of instances to launch any air bubbles, popping any that rise to the floor with a wood decide.
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Bake till edges are set, prime has a dulled end, heart is sort of set, and an instant-read thermometer inserted in heart registers 150°F (66°C) to 155°F (68°C), about 20 minutes. Instantly run a knife round pan to loosen bars from parchment; let cool in pan on a wire rack for 1½ to 2 hours.
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Clear bowl of stand mixer and paddle attachment. Utilizing the paddle attachment, beat remaining 1 package deal (226 grams) cream cheese at medium velocity till clean and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add cream, remaining ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar, and remaining 2¼ teaspoons (9 grams) vanilla; beat till clean and effectively mixed. Switch ¼ cup (about 54 grams) cream cheese combination to a small bowl; stir in black cocoa.
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Spoon and unfold remaining cream cheese combination onto cooled cheesecake layer in pan. Drop small dollops of black cocoa combination on prime of cream cheese combination; utilizing a wood decide, swirl as desired, being cautious to not hit cheesecake layer beneath. Refrigerate for not less than 1 hour or as much as in a single day, loosely overlaying with foil solely when utterly cool to stop condensation from forming on prime.
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Utilizing extra parchment as handles, take away from pan. Utilizing a heat, dry knife, reduce into bars.
Black Cocoa Shortcrust
Makes 1 (13×9-inch) crust
- 3 cups plus 2 tablespoons (391 grams) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (133 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (43 grams) black cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
- 1 cup (227 grams) chilly unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 massive eggs (100 grams)