Fun Food Friday- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars



After I had the twins friends of ours from church came over to meet the boys and she brought along the absolutely most delicious bars I think I have ever had. They combine two of my favorite things, chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake. I seriously think I probably ate half the pan by myself (hence the need to now be on a health challenge :)). But seriously, these bars are worth a cheat (I've waited all week to have one and I'm actually bringing it along to a restaurant tonight to have as part of my cheat meal :), they are that delicious). And it makes a lot (you don't need big pieces because they're super thick). Now I won't lie, these aren't your quick throw together bars, there are two batters to make and you have to crumble the dough on top, but if you have the time, they are definitely worth it. I haven't met a person yet who didn't bite into one of these and their eyes got big by their surprise of how incredibly delicious a bar can taste. :)

Ingredients: Flour, White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Eggs, Butter, Chocolate Chips, Vanilla, Baking Soda, Salt, Cream Cheese

To a mixer bowl add 1 1/3 cup of softened butter...

1 cup brown sugar...

And 1 cup white sugar

Cream together

Add 2 eggs...

2 tsp vanilla...

1 tsp baking powder...

and 1 tsp salt

Turn the mixer on low and add 3 cups of flour. Once all the flour is poured in, turn the mixer on high for a minute, scrapping the sides

Add 2 cups of chocolate chips

And there you have it, the cookie dough is done.

To another mixer bowl (or if you're a normal person who only has one, put the cookie dough in another bowl, clean out your bowl, and return it to the mixer :)) add 2 8oz packages of softened cream cheese...

1 cup of white sugar...

and 2 eggs

Mix until all combined (it will be a little clumpy, that's okay, it still turns out delicious!)

To a greased 9x13 pan add a little more than half of the cookie dough batter

Pour the cheesecake batter over the top and spread it around

Then you need to add the rest of the cookie dough on top of that. you can either just crumble it on top, or I smashed it between my hands and laid it out over the cheesecake batter, either way works.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until the middle is set

 And there they are, beautiful, delicious Chocolate Cheesecake Bars!

Enjoy!!!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Cheesecake Filling:
2 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs

Mix shortening, butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Put a little more than half of this cookie mixture in the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.  Pat down slightly.  Beat cream cheese, sugar, and egg until smooth.  Spread over cookie mixture.  Crumble remaining dough over the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min - 1 hour.  Watch to see when center is just set.  Cool and refrigerate.  If you are in a hurry, you can use 2 rolls of store bought cookie dough instead of the cookie recipe.