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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

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These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars are the perfect blend of cookie and cheesecake into one easy to hold bar cookie.  Grab a glass of milk…you are going to need it!

Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

It’s a good thing I just HAD to make these cookie bars this weekend.

Yesterday a group of friends and I ran a Warrior Dash.  It was so much fun, but now I know that the 6 workouts that I did before it totally did not help me to be ready to run and to do obstacles.

The only thing that kept me going through the mud and over the walls was the thought of these delicious bar cookies waiting for me in my refrigerator.  
Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

You want me to run through ankle deep mud?  And climb over the top of a 15 foot wall that only has two by fours and a slippery muddy rope on it?   Run over slippery, muddy hills?  Walk over boards that are covered in mud?  And now swim through water, and then get out and do more of the same thing?

Seriously the only thing that kept me going was chanting “cookie bars, cookie bars, cookie bars!”

Well, that and the fact that my 14 year old son could run laps around me doing this.  For the record, he has been playing soccer since the end of June.  He is a little more in shape than I am.  But it was great motivation for me to keep going.  No way was I going to let him finish without me.  He did get over the line first, but my husband and I were close behind.  I have some pictures of the mud madness that I will share later this week.

Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

If you ever have a chance to do a mud run, I would say go for it!!!

Although, I also would say, do more training than what I did.  “Walking” to the kitchen for food and “lifting” cookies and pies probably isn’t the right kind of workout to do before climbing walls and swimming in mud.  But it is definitely one of the funniest things you will ever do.  We laughed so much at every obstacle.  I mean when you are completely covered in mud and you can’t get up the hill, what else can you do?

Today I am a little sore, and I am planning on relaxing on the couch with a book or some TV….and a few of these chocolate cookie bars.

Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

Ok, enough about running and mud, let’s talk about these cookie bars that have been staring you down the whole time.  I have a few different versions here on the blog, like these Milky Way Cheesecake Cookie Bars, but I realized that I didn’t have chocolate ones.  That was a problem…but a good problem to have to fix.

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 peanut butter cup chunks in it.

Yup, I went there again.  I’m telling you those doggone Reese’s just keep yelling at me from my cupboard.  I have to listen each and every time.   You guys don’t mind my obsession with Reese’s, right?

Anyway, then you 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.  You are going to drizzle chocolate on top to hide all that anyway.

 

What are you doing still reading?

Get “running” to the store for all the ingredients.  I think you will want to be “lifting” these into your mouth ASAP!

Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

 

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe

Yield: 24 cookie bars
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Dark chocolate cookie bars with a layer of peanut butter cheesecake baked inside makes a great dessert for any dinner.

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

For the Cheesecake

  • 1 - 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 12 Reese's peanut butter cups, frozen and chopped

For the Topping

  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon shortening

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
  2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
  3. Stir together the salt, baking soda, flour, and cocoa powder. Slowly add to the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
  4. Press half the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.
  5. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the egg and peanut butter and beat again.
  6. Stir in the chopped Reese's peanut butter cups by hand. Pour over the top of the dough in the pan.
  7. Take spoonfuls of the leftover cookie dough and flatten in your hands. Place on top of the cheesecake gently. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for 1-2 hours, then refrigerate until cool completely. Cut into 24 bars.
  8. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat 30 seconds and stir. Repeat for 15 seconds if needed.
  9. 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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 407Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 219mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 33gProtein: 7g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Dark chocolate cookie bars with a peanut butter cheesecake center...just yes!!!

Other Reese’s desserts that will keep you going through any crazy running:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Dough Truffles 8-1

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Dough Truffles

Reese's Rocky Road Brownies 8

Reese’s Rocky Road Brownies

fluffernutter fudge brownies2

Fluffernutter Fudge Brownies

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Comments

  2. Sam says

    Looks amazing but no one likes dark chocolate in family. Can I use semi-sweet or milk chocolate and just regular cocoa powder? Same measurements?

    Reply

  3. Sara says

    Just made these today for Superbowl Sunday!! Taste like a chocolate explosion in my mouth… WOW!! So rich and gooey, and you are right that they make you crave a cold glass of milk. I used milk chocolate ingredients instead of dark because of what I had on hand, and the result was great. My whole family loves them! Definitely finger-licking worthy 🙂 I will definitely be making them again!!!

    Reply

  10. Amy says

    Oh My Good-ness, Jocelyn!! Found your site via +Chef Dennis Littley (thanks to G+!) and just spent 45 minutes pouring over all your delicious, amazing recipes. I’m not sure which I’m going to devour more – your recipes or your food photography! Both are top-notch!! Keep up the great work – it’s a joy to find you and share your beautiful work. 🙂

    Cheers,
    Amy 🙂

    Reply

  11. Theresa says

    Peanut butter, chocolate, cheesecake and cookies altogether? Now that is decadent. You have me thinking about dessert and I have just finished breakfast!

    Reply

  14. Shari says

    These look so yummy! I am definitely going to give these a try. The kids will love them! By the way, where do you get those adorable little bags that you have underneath them?? So cute!

    Reply

  16. Becca says

    OMG! I have to leave your page now! There are so many Reese’s recipes! I can feel the pounds adding up just looking at all of these delicious recipes. I’ll have to try a few of them out though… 🙂 Stop by my Friday’s Five Features this week and link up this post (and others)! diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com

    Reply

  17. Karly says

    My brother in law did a Warrior Dash this weekend too! How fun! I, personally, would die first. Haha!

    Love the photos of these, Jocelyn! 🙂

    Reply

  19. Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says

    Oh my gosh! That’s incredible, I don’t think I could do a mud run of any sort right now. It has been a year since I saw the gym last. Too much “lifting cookies” going on over here too! These Cheesecake cookie bars look perfect! I love the dark chocolate crust.

    Reply

  21. Tieghan says

    Congrats on the warrior run!! Not sure I could ever do on of those. Well okay, maybe if I had these bars waiting for me! They are insane, I do not even like cheesecake! But I mean chocolate and peanut butter!?! Yes, please!

    Reply

  23. LuAnn Braley says

    Wow…they all look fabulous! My husband doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I think he would gobble up those Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Dough Truffles!

    Reply

  27. marcie@flavorthemoments says

    These might get me through the Tough Mudder in September…I’m going to have to remember these! I can’t wait to see your pics! Congrats finishing. I don’t think anything can really prepare us for these types of things. lol

    Reply

  31. Renee @ Awesome on $20 says

    Girl, can’t we just forego all the mud, skip to the end, and eat the cookie bars. I mean, they look absolutely amazing. I would run through mud if I had to, but I’d rather just sit on a picnic blanket. Good on you for making it through all that! You rock!

    Reply

  32. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

    Congrats on your Warrior Dash. Sounds awesome! I’ve ran alot of races and marathons in my life, but never a ‘rugged’ type race like that!

    These bars. Epic. I have a Cheesecake Bar recipe for my Tues post and with PB too. But not chocolate. Or with the Reese’s. AMAZING! Pinned!

    Reply

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