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A close-up of a millionaires cheesecake bars on a wooden board, showing a thick crust, creamy filling with brownie pieces, and a caramel drizzle.

Easy Millionaires Cheesecake Bars

These Easy Millionaires Cheesecake Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, creamy salted caramel cheesecake, and rich dark chocolate ganache for the ultimate layered dessert. They’re make-ahead friendly, party-perfect, and always a show-stopping family favorite
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate caramel cheesecake, layered cheesecake dessert, Millionaires cheesecake bars, party dessert bars, salted caramel cheesecake bars
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Chilling Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 420kcal
Cost: $18

Equipment

  • 1 9x13-inch baking pan Line with parchment for easy removal
  • 1 Food Processor For shortbread crust
  • 1 Electric mixer For smooth cheesecake filling
  • 1 Large roasting pan For water bath
  • 1 Saucepan For caramel
  • 1 Offset spatula For ganache layering
  • 1 Measuring cups & spoons

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter Cold, cubed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cheesecake Layer

  • 24 oz cream cheese Softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs Room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream Room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup caramel sauce For swirling

For the Salted Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoon butter Room temperature
  • ½ cup heavy cream Room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • 8 oz dark chocolate Chopped
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoon butter

For Garnish

  • flaky sea salt
  • extra caramel drizzle Optional

Instructions

  • My daughter loves being in charge of the oven dial, so she sets it to 350°F while I line the pan with parchment. It’s our little teamwork ritual.
  • We pulse the [flour], [sugar], and [salt] together, then add cold [butter] and [vanilla] until it looks like soft sand. She helps press it firmly into the pan.
  • We bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and let it cool completely. This is usually when she sneaks buttery crumbs.
  • I handle the hot sugar while she watches wide-eyed as [sugar] melts, then we carefully stir in [butter], [cream], and [sea salt].
  • We beat the [cream cheese] and [sugar] until silky, then add the [eggs], [sour cream], and [vanilla]. She always says it looks like cake frosting.
  • We drizzle [caramel sauce] over the cheesecake and gently swirl it together. She takes this step very seriously, it’s her masterpiece moment.
  • We place the pan in a water bath and bake at 325°F for 40–45 minutes until set around the edges.
  • After cooling, we refrigerate for 4 hours. My daughter always asks how long “cheesecake patience” takes.
  • We pour hot [cream] over chopped [dark chocolate] and stir in [butter] until smooth and glossy.
  • She helps pour the ganache, drizzle more [caramel], and sprinkle [flaky sea salt]. We refrigerate overnight before slicing.

Notes

  • For no-bake Millionaires Cheesecake Bars, use a gelatin-based filling and chill 6 hours.
  • Store refrigerated up to 5 days.
  • Freeze individual bars up to 2 months.
  • For a quicker shortcut, use store-bought caramel, but homemade truly makes these unforgettable.
  • These are very rich, small squares are perfect for serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar (100g) | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 650IU | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2mg