Butterscotch Cheesecake Bars

1. Stage

Make crust: Butter a 9"-x-13" baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2" overhang on all sides. Butter parchment, then set rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 350°.

2. Stage

In a food processor or blender, grind graham crackers into fine crumbs; add sugar and salt and pulse to combine. Transfer to a medium bowl, add melted butter, and use a fork or your fingers to blend mixture until crumbs are evenly moist. Press into prepared pan and transfer to freezer for 10 minutes.

3. Stage

Bake crust for 12 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

4. Stage

Make cheesecake: In a small saucepan over low heat, warm butterscotch chips and heavy cream, stirring frequently, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

5. Stage

In a large bowl using a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed, scraping down bowl as necessary, until completely smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Add sugar and salt and beat, scraping down bowl as necessary, until smooth and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, then add vanilla and beat 30 seconds. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition and scraping down bowl as necessary. Add 3/4 of the butterscotch mixture (save the rest for drizzling over the bars) and sour cream and beat on low until completely smooth and streak-free, 1 minute more.

6. Stage

Pour cheesecake batter over cooled crust and smooth top with a spatula. Bake until set around edges and just barely jiggling in center, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let come to room temperature. Once completely cool, loosely cover cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 3 hours, or up to overnight.

7. Stage

When ready to serve, heat up remaining butterscotch glaze. Cut cheesecake into squares and place on a serving tray. Pour butterscotch glaze over bars and serve.