Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars Recipe
These Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars feature a delightful Nilla wafer crust layered with a vibrant orange gelatin cream and a creamy cheesecake topping, all enhanced by smooth Cool Whip for a luscious, no-bake dessert that’s reminiscent of classic creamsicles.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 25 minutes (includes chilling and freezing times)
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 ⅓ cups Nilla Wafer Cookie Crumbs
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Orange Gelatin Layer
- 3 ounces orange gelatin
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 3/4 cup cold water
- 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons orange extract
- 8 drops orange Wilton Gel Food Color (optional)
- 1 cup Cool Whip
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups Cool Whip (divided; 1 cup for cheesecake layer, 1 cup folded into orange cream)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing easy removal of bars later. Melt 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a microwave for about 30 seconds, stirring and melting further if needed. In a food processor, pulse Nilla wafers until finely crumbed. Combine the crumbs with the melted butter using a rubber spatula until evenly mixed. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the Orange Gelatin: In a 2-cup measuring glass, dissolve the orange gelatin in 3/4 cup boiling water, stirring until completely dissolved. Add 3/4 cup cold water, stir again, and refrigerate until the mixture is fully cooled but not set, approximately 10 minutes.
- Prepare Orange Cream Layer: Beat 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese with powdered sugar, orange extract, and optional orange food coloring until smooth. Gradually mix in the chilled gelatin mixture slowly for a smooth consistency. Refrigerate this mixture for one hour to chill and thicken.
- Prepare Cheesecake Layer: In a separate bowl, beat another 8 ounces of cream cheese with confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip gently using a rubber spatula.
- Assemble Layers: Spoon dollops of the cheesecake mixture onto the frozen crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Fold the remaining 1 cup of Cool Whip into the chilled orange cream layer until uniform and smooth. Pour the orange cream over the cheesecake layer gently and spread evenly.
- Chill and Set: Refrigerate the assembled bars overnight or for a minimum of 6 hours until fully set and firm for slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature for smoother mixing.
- Pour the gelatin mixture slowly into the cream cheese to avoid lumps and achieve a smooth texture.
- Freezing the crust helps maintain distinct layers and easier slicing.
- Optional orange food coloring enhances the visual appeal but can be omitted if preferred.
- For best results, refrigerate bars overnight to fully set the layers.
Keywords: Orange Creamsicle Bars, No-Bake Dessert, Cheesecake Bars, Nilla Wafer Crust, Gelatin Dessert, Cream Cheese Dessert
