Cappuccino Cheesecake Bars

This is a wonderful chessecake bar with a mild coffee flavor. It is so divine and a beautiful dish to serve. From Bon Appetit, October 2010.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 15
• Yields: 15 bars

Ingredients

• 9  whole graham crackers, broken up
• 1⁄4 cup sugar, plus
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  chilled unsalted butter, diced
• 1  tablespoon heavy whipping cream, plus
• 1  cup  chilled heavy whipping cream
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1  large egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Butter 11x7x1 1/2-inch metal baking pan.
2. Grind graham crackers with 1/4 cup sugar in processor to small crumbs.
3. Add 1/4 cup butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder. Blend until crumbs are moist and stick together.
4. Transfer 1/2 cup crumb mixture to pie dish for crumb topping. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of prepared metal baking pan. Bake Crumbs in pan and pie dish until golder, 10 minutes.
5. Cool 10 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
6. Meanwhile, stir remaining 5 teaspoons espresso powder, 1 tablespoon cream, and vanilla in small bowl until coffee dissolves.
7. Beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth. Add 2/3 cup sugar and beat to blend. Beat in coffee mixture, then egg.
8. Spread filling evenly over crust in metal baking pan. Bake until set, about 25 minutes.
9. Chill uncovered until cold and firm, at least 2 hours up to one day.
10. Beat one cup cream in medium bowl until firm peaks form.
11. Cut cheesecake lengthwise into three strips. Cut each strip into 5 bars.
12. Transfer bars to platter.
13. Dollop whipped cream atop each bar.
14. Sprinkle with crisp crumb mixture from pie dish.