Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars

 

The other night we went to a birthday party for a 3 year old.  I was asked to bring my guacamole to the party, and was more than happy to help.  I obviously love cooking, so I asked if I could bring anything else.  She thought she had it covered, but then heard what I was thinking of making.  She immediately took me up on my offer!  And boy am I glad I did.  It was a HUGE hit!  Everyone raved about them, and wanted the recipe!  The birthday boy loves baseball, and had a wonderful cake that looked just like a giant baseball, but these bars were a great treat as well. 

I don’t usually like Cheesecake, never really have.  But recently I am turning a corner, and have tasted a couple I like.  One was a layered cheesecake, with a chocolate cookie crust and then 3 layers (chocolate, almond, brown sugar) of cheesecake.  That was good!  I have been seeing a few different ideas on this bar floating around.  Some have a graham cracker crust, some don’t.  So I wanted to make my own version.  And boy these bars were good, I will happily make them again!   I guess this might prove that if you put enough sugar in cream cheese, I will eat it! 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Printable Recipe

Cookie Layer:

½ cup butter

½ cup shortening

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 ¼ cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 bag chocolate chips

Cheesecake Layer:

1 (8oz) package cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

The cookie layer is just my normal chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Cream together the butter, shortening and sugar.  Add in eggs, and vanilla.   Mix in flour, salt, and baking soda.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Transfer this to another bowl.  

In mixer beat cream cheese until smooth  - about 2-3 minutes on medium speed.  Add sugar, egg and vanilla.  Mix until just combined. 

Using a 13x9 pan, spread ½ the cookie dough over the bottom of the pan.   Pour the cream cheese mixture over the dough.  With the remaining dough, drop chunks of it over the cream cheese.  

Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.  The top will be lightly browned, and if you insert a toothpick it will come out clean.  This was my first time making anything related to Cheesecake, so I wasn’t sure how to tell when it was done.   But it was perfect!  

Allow to cool before slicing.  Store in the fridge.