Maple Cheesecake Bars With Maple Short-crust

These bars oh so good and filled with so much maple goodness that they are addicting. I am a maple freak and these bars are perfect. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Cook time does not include chill time.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 1 9x13 pan

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  lb cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 2  eggs, room temperature
• 3⁄4 cup pure maple syrup, room temperature
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon lemon juice
• 2  cups chocolate chips, melted

Directions

1. For Maple Short Crust:.
2. Cream butter. Continue to beat, gradually add the maple syrup and vanilla. Add the flour and salt, blend.
3. For the cheesecake:.
4. Preheat oven 400 degrees. Press Rich Maple Short Crust into 9x13 pan with floured hands.
5. Pour melted chocolate over crust, set aside.
6. Beat cream cheese until light.
7. Beat in sour cream and then eggs one at a time.
8. Gradually beat in maple syrup followed by vanilla and lemon juice.
9. Slowly pour cheese mixture over chocolate. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven 350 and bake 30 minutes longer.
10. Cool on wire rack, cover, chill before cutting into bars.