Mardi Gras Style - Tie Dye Cheese Cake Bars

Mardi Gras Style- Tie Dye Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

For the crust

9 graham crackers

6 Tbsp. butter melted

1/4 cup of sugar

For the cheesecake

2 8-oz. blocks of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup of sour cream

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

kosher salt

gel food colors (purple, green, and gold)

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325° and line an 8" x 8” pan with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make the crust: Blend graham crackers in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until fine crumbs form. Add to a bowl with butter and sugar and mix until combined. Press tightly into the prepared pan.

Step 3: Make the filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, and salt and beat until combined.

Step 4: Divide the mixture between three small bowls (or one bowl for each color you're using) and add a couple of drops of food coloring to each bowl. Stir to combine, adjusting the color as desired. Add spoonfuls of the dyed cheesecake mixture to the graham cracker crust, alternating colors until you’ve used the whole mix. Swirl the colors together with a knife. Careful not to over-swirl, or the color will become muddied.

Step 5: Bake only slightly jiggly for about 40 minutes. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until firm, 3 hours, or overnight.

Step 6: Slice it into bars and serve.