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Pieces of cheesecake on white plates with small bowl of caramel in background.
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Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Recipe

These Dulce de leche cheesecake bars are decadent and easy to make. Imagine a creamy cheesecake over a buttery graham cracker crust with a swirl of dulce de leche, and you're on the right track.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Chill time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indonesian
Servings: 9
Calories: 327kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Square pan 6 x 6

Ingredients

Base

  • 2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar

Filling

  • 16 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup dulce de leche
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Toppings

  • ¼ cup dulce de leche
  • whole milk only if needed

Instructions

  • Place parchment paper in the bottom of a 9x9 square pan.
  • In a medium sized bowl, mix Graham crackers crumbs with melted butter and sugar.
  • Place the crust mixture into the pan. Using a measuring cup, press down to flatten the crust so it's firmly packed. Don't skip this part, even if it looks like your crust is packed after pressing in with your hands. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or a flat-bottomed glass to press the crumb mixture firmly into the pan. Place the crust in the fridge while making the cheesecake.
  • Add cream cheese, vanilla, heavy cream, and dulce de leche into a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Slowly pour the mixture over the graham cracker crust, making sure to spread evenly.
  • The dulce de leche must be runny to swirl. If it's too thick, add a little milk to thin it—no more than a couple of tablespoons.
  • To make the swirl, add 3-5 drops of dulce de leche around the cheesecake. Using a toothpick, gently extend the lines to make a swirl.
  • These cheesecake bars need to be chilled for 4 to 6 hours until firm before serving. Refrigerating overnight is the best option.
  • Cut the cheesecake into squares. This recipe makes 9 servings. For small bites, cut the cheesecake into 16 portions.

Notes

Make sure your graham crackers are fresh. Stale graham crackers become soft and do not make a good crust.
Gluten-free cookies are readily available, so feel free to use them for the crust. You can buy graham cracker crumbs and can sometimes find other types of cookie crumbs, but cookies are easy to pulverize yourself in a food processor.
Don't have a food processor? Just place the cookies in an airtight baggie and roll with a rolling pin until you have fine crumbs. Don't leave any pieces uncrushed as it won't make a good crust.
Feel free to add your favorite spice, like cinnamon or ginger. Just don't overdo it. If you're adding an extract, keep in mind that too much liquid can change the consistency of the crust. A little extract goes a long way.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 788IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg