Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

For many, this will be the holy grail of cookie bars; a perfect caloric storm of flavor with a buttery graham cracker crumb crust, a vanilla cheesecake center and gobs of cookie dough on top. Because the cookie dough gets baked on top of the cheesecake, it just bakes to a light golden color on top and beneath retains a cookie dough texture. What an amazing combination in a single treat! They also freeze very well so you can take one or two out at a time to enjoy over several weeks...if they last that long.

Graham Cracker Crumb Crust

Mix together:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 2 tbsp sugar

Press firmly into the bottom of a greased or parchment paper lined 9x9 inch baking pan.  Bake for 5 minutes at 325 degrees F.

Vanilla Cheesecake Center

Cream together very well:

• 1 cup cream cheese (that's an 8 ounce package)
• 1/3 cup sugar

Add:

• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix until well blended.

Spread evenly over the graham crumb crust.

Cookie Dough Topping

Cream together very well:

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Fold in just until a dough forms:

• 3/4 cup flour
• pinch salt

Finally mix in:

• 2/3 cup chocolate chips

Pick up the cookie dough in handfuls and press into a ball. Break off small nuggets of the dough and sprinkle these evenly over the cheesecake layer.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until the cookie dough just begins to brown on top. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares or bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge if you are not freezing these cookie bars.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars