Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

I am usually not a huge fan of cheesecake but this recipe is simply wonderful. The pumpkin is the perfect addition! The recipe is orignally from Martha Stewart and has been tweaked to my liking.















Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST
Chocolate graham crackers (about 5 oz)
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE FILLING
2 packages bar cream cheese, (8 ounces each)
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Set aside. In a food processor, blend cookies with sugar until finely ground (you should have about 1 cup crumbs); add butter, and pulse until moistened. Transfer crumb mixture to prepared pan, and press gently into bottom. Bake until fragrant and slightly firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Place cream cheese in a stand mixer; blend until smooth. Add sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, flour, and salt; mix until combined. Set aside. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until melted. Add 1 cup pumpkin mixture; stir to combine. Set aside.
Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into prepared pan. Drop dollops of chocolate mixture onto pumpkin mixture; swirl. Bake until cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan. Cover; chill until firm, at least 2 hours (and up to 2 days). Using overhang, transfer cake to work surface. With a knife dipped in water, cut into 16 squares. Serve.