Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
When I sent a picture of these bars to Hubby at work to show him what I had done during my day off, his response was simple “YES PLEASE”. As I’ve mentioned, Hubby is a HUGE cookie dough fan. As much as he claims not to be a big sweets/dessert guy, he will never deny his love of cookie dough. So when I saw these pop up in my Google Reader, there was no doubt that I had to add them to my must-bake list.
And due to that love of cookie dough, these bars jumped right to the top of that must-bake list. And boy am I glad they did. In fact, I think everyone who got to taste these guys is glad they made it to the top of the must-bake list.
These bars start with a base of a graham cracker crust with mini chocolate chips in it. Yes please. Next comes a cheesecake layer. Yes please. And last, but definitely not least, comes a layer of cookie dough crumbles. Yes Please.
The combination of these three layers results in amazingly delicious cookie bar that you will not be forgetting about any time soon. You get a great crunchiness from the graham cracker crust, then a great creaminess from the cheesecake layer, and then the delicious crumbliness from the cookie dough. I this this cookie dough recipe would be great to mix in to some ice cream. Like I mentioned, it yielded large crumbles of cookie dough, as opposed to the smooth cookie dough frosting that I’ve used on brownies and mini cupcakes.
A couple notes, I doubled this recipe since I was baking for a large group. I used a 9×13 pan and had to bake them for about double the baking time listed. I have shown the recipe below as a single batch. The original recipe has a chocolate drizzle over the top. I left it off literally because I forgot about it, but it would add another layer of indulgence to these bars.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
Yield: 16
Ingredients:
For the Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 Tbsp butter, melted
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
For the Cookie Dough
5 Tbsp butter, room temp.
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips
For the Cheesecake Filling
10 oz. cream cheese, room temp.
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
For the crust
Grease a 8x8 pan with butter, line pan with parchment paper and butter the paper, leaving enough to extend over the sides.
Crush graham crackers into crumbs to make 1 & 1/2 cups. Add to butter and stir until crumbs are moistened. Stir in chocolate chips.
Press crust mixture into bottom of pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Set pan on wire rack to cool.
For cookie dough
Using mixer and the paddle attachment, mix butter, brown sugar, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract at medium speed until smooth. Adjust mixer speed to low and add flour. Mix just until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. Set aside.
For cheesecake
Using mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla extract, beating just until blended.
Pour batter into cooled, baked crust. Drop cookie dough by teaspoonfuls over the top of the filling.
Bake about 30 minutes, or until set. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Place in the refrigerator to chill several hours.
Recipe adapted from Bake at 350
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This looks just plain amazing…and I’m not even a huge chocolate fan! The different textures must be delectable — good thing Valentine’s Day is coming up =)
This looks like my favorite cake I’ve never tried. Yum! After reading the directions, it seems like you could reduce the prep time by simply preparing the brownie batter first and setting it aside while prepping the cake batter, and then baking them at the same time. Either way, I am putting this on my “MUSTS!” list. Thanks for sharing.
Wow!! That looks amazing. It would make a great chocolage indulgence for Valentine’s Day.
WOW! That looks amazing! I love the filling. I’m starring to try for sure. Chocolate cake is always a big winner with guests. 🙂
Mmmm….chocolate! Looks fantastic 🙂
Man, this cake is serious stuff!! I would love some of that! Thanks for all the tips on how to make it more efficiently.
Wow.
That is one amazing way to celebrate.
OMG That looks awesome. I wish I could take it out of the computer screen and eat it right now!!!
While I’m not a chocolate cake fan I have to say that is one delicious and impressive looking cake! Definitely makes wish I was into chocolate. 🙂
~ingrid
Did anyone count the calories? 😉
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I really feel hungry!
Cheers,
Carsten
tasteandshare.com
food social network * wine social network
gloof
Talk about death by chocolate! That looks incredible!
This is such a beautiful cake! I really want to give it a whirl. A lot of chocolate but totally worth it!
omg. this looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. can i get a piece right now please?!
wow. that looks amazing
Looks absolutely fabulous. Really wonderful photos too!
So glad I stumbled upon your blog.
🙂
ButterYum
beautiful cake! one can never be tired of Chocolate! and those strawberries steal the show!:)
Yummy! that would’ve have been a perfect finger food! love the cheesy texture:)
this would be perfect for the Valentine day giveaway I’m hosting on my blog. would be great if you could participate!
http://www.funandfoodcafe.com/2010/02/valentine-super-bowl-recipe-carnival.html
Is a cake like this even legal? This is going to be a most special addition in the KOL round up. Thanks for participating, Jen!
Wow!! Just the way the CHocorango likes! Kinda perfect!
When I made this, I almost went into a chocolate coma. But it was totally worth it!!!