Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars

These bars have that amazing cheesecake flavor without all the fuss. This super simple recipe produces smooth and creamy bars with the crunch of chocolate chip cookies. A marriage made in heaven.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Makes: about 12 bars

Cookie dough:

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature

1½ cups sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cheesecake filling:

8-ounce block of cream cheese, room temperature

½ cup sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9”-by-9” baking dish, and line with parchment paper.

To make cookie dough, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar until well incorporated. Add vanilla and eggs and cream again until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir gently until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread a little more than half of the cookie dough onto the bottom of the baking pan and press down firmly, creating an even layer. Set aside the remaining cookie dough and make the cream cheese filling.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat until combined. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.

Pour the cheesecake filling over the top of the cookie dough base. Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the top.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until top is browned and center is just set.

Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. Use the parchment paper to gently lift the cookie cheesecake from the pan. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator before serving.