Apricot Amaretto Cheesecake Bars

Apricot Amaretto Cheesecake Bars

Here's a recipe I developed to indulge two of my great loves, apricot and cheesecake...oh and let's not forget Amaretto! In this recipe, the sweet dried apricots soak up the Amaretto overnight before being added to the cheesecake batter. Apricot and Amaretto is a fantastic flavor combination and they come together so deliciously in these incredible cheesecake bars.

For over 120 other cookie ideas, check out this growing photo gallery on our

Pinterest Cookie Board.

In an airtight container combine:

4 ounces Amaretto liqueur

3/4 cup dried chopped apricots

Let the apricots soak in the Amaretto for 24-48 hours. Almost all the liqueur should be soaked up by the dried apricots but if just a little syrupy Amaretto is remaining, it's okay to add to the cheesecake mixture as well.

Cookie Base 

In a food processor pulse together until crumbly (or simply cut the butter through the flour and sugar with a pastry knife or two butter knives held between your fingers)

1 cup flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup cold butter

Save a 1/2 cup of this crumble mixture to sprinkle over the top later. Press the rest of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 9x9 inch square baking pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes while preparing the cheesecake filling. 

Cheesecake Filling

Beat together until smooth and fluffy

1 cup cream cheese (8 oz or 250 grams by weight)

3 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup white sugar

1 large egg

Fold in the soaked apricots.

Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly onto the pre-baked cookie base and sprinkle the reserved cookie crumble over the surface; bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving. Refrigerate to store.