Inside BruCrew Life

bake. eat. repeat.

Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars

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These Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars almost didn’t make it here. But the drizzles of chocolate and caramel convinced me to share.

One Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bar on a white plate with a wire rack full of more cheesecake bars behind it

Do you ever have one of those days? Just kind of an off kind of a day where you have no idea what you did all day.

That was my yesterday.  I honestly only did about 2 hours of email catching up and surfing, and then I went for a run.

But what happened to the other 3 hours of my childless day because I’m really not sure where it went.

Part of the day was fighting with caramel and cheesecake cookie bars, and trying to take pictures without it looking like a hot mess.  

Cheesecake cookie bars loaded with Milky Way candy bars and caramel drizzles make the best kind of dessert!
I am a huge procrastinator.  I like to think that I work better under pressure. One of these days, that is going to bite me in the butt!

Apple week has been planned for weeks…you would think I would have everything done. Oh no!

 On Wednesday, I finally made my last recipe that’s due Friday.  NO PRESSURE!!!! Only I started it a little late, and it was coming out of the oven when I had to be at the school picking up the kids.

Slight problem!  No biggie though. My husband was next door at the church, so I called and asked if he could come home for a bit. I reassured him that all he had to do was remove the pan from the oven.

A square of Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Cookie Bars on a white plate with a wire rack behind it with more cookie bars on it

So, then on Thursday all I had to do was cut them into bars and drizzle some happiness.

Oh, and take pictures, edit, write, post, create a hop button. Days like this should seriously cure me from waiting to the last minute because it’s always crazy!!!

As I was trying to cut the bars into presentable looking squares, I forgot about the caramel that was melting on the stove.

Fortunately, I caught it before it was ruined because that would not have been good.  It just didn’t drizzle quite as neatly! Would you like some caramel chunks with your cheesecake?

Milky Way Cheesecake Cookie Bars - adding candy bars and caramel drizzles makes these cheesecake cookie bars a must make dessert! Perfect recipe for your sweet tooth! #cheesecake #cookies #caramel #milkyway #candybars
Oh and I don’t recommend licking the spoon covered in hot caramel. Just trust me on that one!

The stress in the kitchen was crazy high. I really was worried about this not working out, until…I ate one of the extra side pieces.

These creamy Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars mixed with cookies, candy bars, and caramel will send you to your happy place.

Yield: 16 squares

Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars

Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars

These Caramel Milky Way Cheesecake Bars are loaded with candy bars and are topped with caramel and chocolate. It's the best dessert to end the night with!

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cookie Layer

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups chopped Milky Way candy bars (I used the Caramel Apple ones)

For the Cheesecake Layer

  • 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
  • 2 Tablespoons flour

For the Topping

  • 4 ounces caramel candies (about 14 squares)
  • 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1Tablespoon heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 pan with foil. Spray it with nonstick spray.
  2. Cream the butter, shortening, and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla.
  3. Sift together the flour, crumbs, baking soda, and salt and slowly add to the butter mixture.
  4. Stir in the candies by hand. Press half the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  5. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the egg, caramel, and flour and beat again. Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the cookie dough in the pan.
  6. Crumble the rest of the cookie dough gently on top of the cheesecake.
  7. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool on the counter for 1-2 hours. Refrigerate 4-6 hours.
  8. Place the caramels and heavy cream in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until melted and creamy. Let cool slightly. Drizzle over the top of the cooled bars.
  9. In a small microwave safe bowl, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Heat for 20 seconds. Stir and repeat until melted and smooth.
  10. Place in a bag and cut one corner off. Drizzle over the cookie bars. Let set. Cut into 16 squares. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Notes

*The Caramel Apple Milky Ways are a seasonal candy, so feel free to use regular Milky Ways instead.

**You can also bake this in a 9x13 pan by decreasing the bake time to 30 minutes.

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Cheesecake

It HAS been a fun Applicious Week  with lots of yummy goodies.  I hope you printed some new recipes  to try out in the near future.

Now it is time for one more HOP… to check out what everyone is showing off today!


Shugary Sweets – Apple Pie Fudge
Shaken Together – Apple Pie Cheesecake Gingersnap Trifles

Sally’s Baking Addiction – Apple Spice Cupcakes

Crumbs and Chaos – Caramel Apple Cinna-minis

Chocolate, Chocolate and More – Apple Danishes

Bakeaholic Mama – Caramel Apple Spice Cupcakes

A Pumpkin and A Princess – Caramel Apple Cheesecakes

Bake your Day – Cinnamon Streusel Apple Pizza

Jam Hands – Apple & Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Six Sisters Stuff – Apple Walnut Pullapart Bread

Averie Cooks – Spiced Apple and Banana Bundt Cake

Caramel Apple Milky Way Cheesecake Bars - cookie bars made with Milky Way candy bars and filled with cheesecake https://www.insidebrucrewlife.com
Thank you to all the girls for participating…

and thank you for reading all about our apple obsessions every day!

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Comments

  1. Holly says

    Apple-licious week has been amazing!!! You girls rock! These Milky way cheesecake bars look INSANE. Milky Ways are my FAVORITE! 🙂 Have a great weekend ♥

    Reply

  2. 4Sisters says

    Yep, I always feel like I work better with a little pressure too, but there are times when I wish I had gotten things done sooner 🙂 These look amazing – it’s been a fun week!! Maybe if we schedule now for next year, we’ll have plenty of time to get our goods made 😉 yeah right, I’ll still wait til the last minute!

    Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Do you mean for the cookie layer? You could use more butter in place of the shortening. I just happen to like the texture and softness of cookies made with both.

      Reply

  11. 4littlefergusons says

    I think your blog hates me today. My comments are taking me to a sign in page instead of saying “pending approval”! Argh. I’ll try one more time. 🙂
    I was confused by the cheesecake part of the recipe. It doesn’t say to bake it or anything, but you mentioned it was under cooked. Can you clarify this for me?
    What do you think about adding apple chunks to the cheesecake layer? I have some baking apples I want to use! 🙂

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Sorry for the comment trouble. Yes, you bake the cheesecake in between the layers of cookie dough. And I think that apple in the cheesecake would be awesome…I had actually thought about doing that, but I was already late making it:-) Just make sure you bake it at least 45 minutes with the added moisture from the apples.

      Reply

  12. 4littlefergusons says

    While I am talking to myself, I will just post that I FIGURED IT OUT! 🙂 Yay me. Or duh me? Anyhow, I just realized the cream cheese layer baking instructions are there, under the “for the cookie layer” part. Nevermind! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says

    Underdone or not, I am totally drooling over these! I actually really LOVE those Caramel Apple Milky Ways–shocker since Milky Ways aren’t typically my favorite. These bars look divine, Jocelyn! So gooey and rich and I’m freaking out over that caramel drizzle. Applicious Week was a HUGE success and I loved every minute of it!

    Reply

  19. Erin says

    Holy crud! Look at those! I have one of those days often. I hate it. But if you made these then I’d say it was quite productive =o) Love all your apple recipes! Thanks!

    Reply

  20. Joan Hayes says

    Jocelyn, thanks for saving me that last bite! These are so over the top, you just had to save the best for last! Apple week has been so fun and I’ve pinned so many scrumptious things that I want to make. I think I need to plant a few apple trees in the yard just so I’ll have an unending supply!
    I’m a procrastinator too. I try to get ahead on my blog but then I’ll realize, oh crap, I didn’t edit my photos and I’ll be up until 2 am trying to get it done. Hopefully I’m teaching my kids better or at least how to work under pressure!

    Reply

  31. Becky says

    Congrtats on being featured on Weekend Potluck #37. Your Cheesecake Bars look amazing. I like the way the caramel is drizzled. I love the apple and cheesecake together.

    Reply

  33. Keri says

    Ok stupid question I’m sure but how much regular sugar in cookie layer? It just says “1/2” & I wanted to clarify before making them for Thanksgiving.

    Reply

  34. Rachel says

    I think this recipe needs to be baked in a 9×13 pan. It was way too gooey and not done in the middle after 50 min.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      I did bake this one in the 8 inch pan. Cheesecake will always look gooey and not done when it comes out of the oven. It needs to be refrigerated for a few hours for it to set up completely! You can bake it in a 9×13 pan by decreasing the bake time to 30 minutes if you like.

      Reply

      • deedee says

        This was my question exactly: if its is to be baked in a 8″ pan, then how is it possible to stretch into a 9 x 13 pan, without changing measuring amounts of ingredients? That confused me so I put off preparing them yesterday–but I did go buy the milky Ways today–at my husband’s request of course (they are his favorites). All I did was show him the photo and he said ,”Please go buy the ingredients, today so you can make these tomorrow!”
        My 2nd question is: how many Kraft caramels should I use for 4 ounces? I live in Mexico, where Kraft caramels arent available, however, my friend came to visit me and I begged for caramels. She brought me bags of ‘caramel bites’. How many do I use?
        And 3rd question: can I use these caramel bites for the caramel ice cream topping (not available here either). And if so, how much/many do you think I should use? Its hard getting many things here that you folks up there can just simply “go get” at the store! We dont even have a car! Please reply asap! Thank you!

        Reply

        • Jocelyn says

          This can be made in either pan size. The difference will be in the baking time and the thickness of the end product. I would say probably about 1/2 cup of the caramel bites with the cream should work for the topping. If you use melt another 1/4 cup of the bites with 2-4 Tablespoons cream, it should be similar to the topping. I hope that helps and that they turn out for you.

          Reply

    • Mary McFarren says

      I totally agree! Took too long to bake & it was too dense. Will use a 9 x 13 pan next time. All that aside – it was very delicious!!!

      Reply

    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      Hi, Cindie. It might be the browser you are using, because I do have a print option on each recipe. If you scroll down to the recipe box, there is a print button. When you click that it opens a printable recipe sheet. I hope that helps.

      Reply

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