Creme Brulee Bars
Ingredients:
- graham crackers, finely crushed - 9 whole
- butter, melted - 1/2 cup
- cream cheese, room temperature - 16 ounces
- sugar - 1 cup
- eggs - 2
- egg yolk - 1
- vanilla bean, split, scraped - 1
- fine sea salt - 1/2 t
- sugar - 1/4 cup
Instructions:
Prepare crust -- combine crushed graham cracker crumbs and butter until moistened. Press into a 8 x 8 inch baking pan lined with foil (have foil hang over edge of pan for easy removal). Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8 - 10 minutes, until lightly browned and set. Set aside to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
Prepare filling -- in a bowl beat cream cheese until smooth, add sugar, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla bean seeds and salt, beat well until smooth. Pour mixture over crust. Bake 45 minutes until cheesecake is set but slightly jiggles in the center. DO NOT overbake.
Place cheesecake on a wire rack to completely cool in the pan. Cover, chill for at least 2 hours until firm. Using the foil overhang, place cheesecake on cutting board, cut into squares. Sprinkle the top of each square with sugar, place under broiler to brown the sugar. Store covered in refrigerator.
