Chocolate pumpkin cheesecake bars
1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1-3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut up, or 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1-1/4 cups sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
Grated fresh nutmeg and/or milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate curls
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking
pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and
1/4 cup sugar. Stir in the 1/3 cup melted butter. Press mixture evenly
into bottom of the prepared baking pan; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and the 1-3/4 cups sugar.
Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs,
one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until
combined. Beat in pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt on low
speed just until combined. Remove 1-1/4 cups of the mixture.
3. In a small heavy saucepan, combine the 6 ounces chocolate and the 2
tablespoons butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Whisk
chocolate mixture into the 1-1/4 cups pumpkin mixture. Pour over
crust, spreading evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Carefully pour the remaining pumpkin mixture over baked chocolate
layer, spreading evenly. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes more or until
filling is puffed and center is set. Cool on a wire rack for 30
minutes.
5. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and 1/4 cup sugar. Gently
spread over cookies. Cool completely. Cover and chill for at least 3
hours. Cut into bars.* Before serving, sprinkle with nutmeg and/or
chocolate curls. Makes 24 to 36 bars








