Orange Cheesecake Bars

Name: Orange Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 3 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 60 wafers); 1/4 cup butter, melted; 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk; 3 large eggs, lightly beaten; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate; 1 teaspoon grated orange zest; 1 teaspoon orange extract; 5 drops yellow food coloring; 3 drops red food coloring

I still remember the last day of first grade, when our teacher treated the class to little cups with orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream swirled together. I tried to capture that same delicious flavor when I created these creamy layered bars. -Connie Faulkner, Moxee, Washington

Ingredients

2 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 60 wafers)
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon orange extract
5 drops yellow food coloring
3 drops red food coloring

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs and butter. Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla; beat just until combined. Pour half over crust.
Add the orange juice concentrate, orange zest, extract and food coloring to the remaining cream cheese mixture; beat until combined. Pour over first layer.
Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 106 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 71mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

Originally published as Orange Cheesecake Bars in Taste of Home October/November 2002

Reviews

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

Geri Greene

Jan 16, 2012

We always called the ice cream bar a Dream Cicle - glad to have a cheesecake version of this !
Geri Greene

Jan 16, 2012

I LOVE orange sherbet anything and am so thrilled you even spelled "sherbet" correctly. LOL Our local radio announcers always call it sherbeRt and it never ceases to amaze me. I would put this near the top of my dessert list as it is unique and a childhood fav!!
44473

Feb 3, 2011

I don't know how this is an award winning recipe...I ended up throwing most of it away. It is definitely not worth buying the ingredients that are needed. I have experimented with many cheesecake recipes which ranged from excellent to okay, but this one will be a memorable worst.