Baklava-Style Cheesecake Bars
Description
These baked cheesecake bars get a baklava-inspired twist thanks to flaky pastry and a sticky honey-lemon syrup with crunchy nuts.
Ingredients
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cooking spray
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12 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
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1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
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2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
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1 cup white sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/2 cup honey
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1/2 cup water
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1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
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1/4 cup finely chopped pistachio nuts
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1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over sides. Lightly grease with cooking spray.
2
Place 1 sheet phyllo dough in the prepared pan, pressing phyllo into the bottom; brush with some butter. Layer with remaining 11 phyllo sheets, brushing each layer with butter. Keep unused phyllo covered with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out while working.
3
Bake in the preheated oven until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Place on a wire rack and let cool slightly, 10 to 15 minutes.
4
While phyllo cools, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
5
Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla extract; beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Spread in an even layer over cooled phyllo.
6
Bake in the preheated oven until filling has set, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Refrigerate until completely cooled, about 45 minutes more.
7
Meanwhile, bring honey and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and syrupy, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts, pistachios, and lemon zest until combined. Let cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes.
8
Spoon over cooled cheesecake. Using excess parchment, lift cheesecake out of the pan, and slice into 2x2-inch bars.