Cannoli Cheesecake Chocolate Bars (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Crust

01 - 180 g waffle cone crumbs (approximately 10–12 cones) or graham cracker crumbs
02 - 70 g unsalted butter, melted

→ Filling

03 - 225 g ricotta cheese, full-fat, at room temperature and strained if needed
04 - 225 g mascarpone cheese, full-fat, at room temperature and strained if needed
05 - 100 g granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 0.5 teaspoon fresh orange zest
09 - 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 130 g mini chocolate chips

→ Finishing

11 - Powdered sugar, optional, for dusting

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 175°C. Line the base and two sides of a 23x23 cm square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the waffle cone crumbs and melted butter until evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the base of the prepared pan to create a thin, even layer.
03 - In a large bowl, beat together the ricotta, mascarpone, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Blend in vanilla extract, orange zest, and ground cinnamon until well incorporated.
04 - Pour the cheesecake filling over the prepared crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips uniformly over the filling.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 30–45 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and the centre is nearly set. Baking time may vary depending on pan size and oven performance.
06 - Remove the pan from the oven and allow bars to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 4–6 hours or overnight to allow proper setting. For clean slicing, bars may also be frozen briefly.
07 - Cut into 8 bars or preferred sizes. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Store bars in the refrigerator or freezer.

# Notes:

01 - For best texture, use full-fat cheeses and strain ricotta overnight to eliminate excess moisture.
02 - Waffle, sugar, or graham cracker crumbs are suitable bases for the crust.
03 - Pan size and cheese thickness will affect baking time; adjust accordingly for desired doneness.