Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

posted in Food & Drink on 8/15/2014

The cookies are an easy one bowl kind of a cookie. You mix it all together and press half the dough in a pan. You can measure if you want, but I just kind of eyeball it. Then mix the cheesecake batter in another bowl. The cheesecake in the center of this one is peanut butter with lots of Reese’s.

Cover the top of the cheesecake with the rest of the cookie dough. I found the best way to do this was to take small spoonfuls and flatten it in my hand before laying it on top. It really is ok if some of the cheesecake shows through.

For the Cookies 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder 1 cup dark chocolate chips

For the Cheesecake 1 cream cheese, softened (8 oz.) 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1/2 cup peanut butter 12 Reese's peanut butter cups, frozen and chopped For the Topping 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips 1 teaspoon shortening

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again. Sift together the salt, baking soda, flour, and cocoa powder. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. Press half the dough into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Set aside.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the egg and peanut butter and beat again. Stir in the chopped Reese's peanut butter cups by hand. Pour over the top of the dough in the pan. Take spoonfuls of the leftover cookie dough and flatten in your hands. Place on top of the cheesecake gently. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Let cool for 1-2 hours, then refrigerate until cool completely. Cut into 24 bars.

Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat 30 seconds and stir. Repeat for 15 seconds if needed. Spoon the melted chocolate into a plastic baggie and cut one tip off. Drizzle over the tops of the cheesecake bars. Let set. Keep refrigerated. Makes 24 cookie bars.