The Cheater's version of Cheesecake

Have ever had the original cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory after dinner? Sweet, luscious, thick, and creamy with a crispy graham cracker crust to finish off the experience. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Don't deny it. After you have polished off the last bite of cheesecake, reality dawns on you. That thick slice of cheesecake was approximately 700 calories. The calories only increase with other flavors.

Talk about guilt. To satisfy my craving while staying within my calorie limit, I turned a cheesecake bar (stick) into a cheese"cake."

 Confession #1: I over-baked the cheesecake....

So...I fibbed a bit. It's not a cheesecake, really, it's still a bar...the shape simply changed. Either way, it's light and delicious. It has about a 1:1 ratio of creamcheese filling to crust. It's awesome for a crust lover. I love the crust to death. It's not your traditional graham cracker crust, but a flour, sugar, and butter crust. Oh, you also have to adore vanilla. The vanilla aroma is intense! Mmmm...../swoons.

 Confession #2: I went overboard with the plating.

Doesn't it look like someone died on my

plate? =(

Cheesecake Bar in Cheesecake Form
Adapted from Baking Bites

Ingredients:

Crust

• 1/6 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Filling

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup half&half or light cream
• 1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 to 1/2 of a vanilla bean (depending on how stingy you want to be)
• 1/2 tbsp all purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line pan with parchment paper or grease it. I used a pie pan for my cheesecake bar.
3. Cream sugar and butter until fluffy and smooth.
4. Beat in flour and salt until crumbly. Press mixture into the pan evenly.
5. Bake in oven for 15 to 17 minutes.
6. Combine sugar, half&half, and cheese until smooth.
7. Add eggs one at a time.
8. Add vanilla and flour.
9. Pour filling into crust and bake for 23 to 26 minutes until set.