These easy Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars are made with layers of crescent roll dough, sweet vanilla cream cheese filling, buttery cinnamon sugar, and a drizzle of honey. Inspired by classic sopapillas, this simple make-ahead dessert bakes until golden, chills into clean slices, and is perfect for potlucks, parties, holidays, or Cinco de Mayo.
24ozcream cheeseroom temperature (three 8-ounce blocks)
1 ½cupgranulated sugar
1 ½tspclear vanilla extract
2cans of crescent rolls
Topping:
2tbspbuttermelted
¼cupsugar
1tspground cinnamon
Garnish:
¼cuphoney
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar and clear vanilla extract and mix until smooth, then set aside. This can be done using a stand or hand mixer.
Unroll one container of the crescent dough and gently lay it into the prepared baking dish; press to seal the premade cuts.
Spread the cream cheese mixture on to the pressed dough. Use an offset spatula to make this layer as even as possible.
Unroll the second container of the crescent dough roll and gently place onto the cream cheese mixture, gently pressing the seams together. (Pro tip: use the centerline of the crescent roll cut to center this top dough onto your cheesecake.
You may have to carefully lift some edges to adjust and move the dough- it is best not to have the dough go up the sides.)
In a small bowl, mix the topping- ¼ cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt the 2 TBSP butter on low heat until completely melted (not boiling). Brush the melted butter on the top crust of the cheesecake, gently covering the entire surface. Dust with small spoonfuls of the cinnamon sugar mix. (You might not use all the butter or the cinnamon sugar mix- allow some cinnamon sugar to mix into the melted butter, then add a little bit more only until the crust is covered. Extra cinnamon sugar can be saved as a garnish.)
Bake in the oven for 30–35 minutes, until the dough is puffed, evenly golden brown, and the center no longer looks wet.
Without opening the oven, turn off the heat but leave the cheesecake inside for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely (about 1 hour). Once room temperature, cover lightly with foil or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, overnight is best.
When ready to serve, drizzle the top with the honey.
Notes
For the cleanest slices, chill the bars completely before cutting and wipe the knife between cuts.
Crescent rolls are recommended over crescent dough sheets for a more even crust.
These bars are best served chilled or at room temperature with honey drizzled over the top just before serving.