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Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

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Eating these Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars will send you to your sugar happy place right away.  This bar cookie recipe would be a great addition to your dessert table anytime.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars - peanut butter cheesecake in the middle of peanut butter cookie bars! Awesome dessert recipe!

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There is nothing that I would classify as too sweet.  I am quite a dessert heavy weight (LOL literally).

Now my hubby on the other hand, he takes one or two bites and he is over it.  We were at Cheesecake Factory a few weeks ago, and we both ordered cheesecake after dinner.

Now I purposefully only ate a small portion of dinner because one must leave room for cheesecake when you come to a place called The Cheesecake Factory.  It is a given.  

Layers of peanut butter cheesecake inside a cookie bars makes these Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars perfect for the peanut butter lover! Awesome dessert recipe!
Anyway, I had no problem downing my cheesecake and a few bites of my hubby’s.  He had a few bites and was going on about how sweet it was, and that it was too rich for him.

He even said that he was getting the shakes and the sweats from trying to eat all that sugar.  I just had to laugh at him and call him a dessert light weight.  I guess I have had a lot more practice holding my sugar with all the desserts I keep cranking out.

After having that cheesecake a few weeks ago, I was craving some cheesecake goodies.  One of my favorites from last year were these Key Lime Cheesecake Cookie Bars, so I knew I wanted to make another variation of that recipe.

And since Reese’s are my absolute all time favorites, I decided to make another peanut butter version with Reese’s peanut butter chips, because clearly you can never have enough of that!!!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars - peanut butter cheesecake in the middle of peanut butter and chocolate chunk cookie bars

These peanut butter cheesecake cookie bars are purely decadent.  Thick layers of chocolate and peanut butter chip cookie dough with a generous layer of peanut butter cheesecake in the middle.  Oh yeah!!

I like my bars super thick, but if you like yours thinner, go ahead and bake these in a 9×13 pan.  Just make sure to adjust your baking time to about 30 minutes.

I also used the Hershey’s baking melts in place of the chocolate chips.  I liked biting into the big chunks of chocolate.  Who doesn’t though…

And of course everything is better with more chocolate right?  So, go ahead and drizzle your bars with more melted chocolate and Reese’s peanut butter chips!!!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars - peanut butter cookies layered with peanut butter cheesecake and chocolate! Awesome dessert recipe!

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Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Yield: 16 bars
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie dough with a layer of peanut butter cheesecake. This will take dessert to a whole new level.

Ingredients

For the Cookie Dough

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1 cup extra large chocolate chips

For the Cheesecake

  • 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter

For the Topping

  • 1/4 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon shortening

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 pan with nonstick spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt and beat again.
  3. Stir together the baking soda and flour. Slowly add to the butter mixture until incorporated. Stir in the peanut butter chips and baking melts by hand.
  4. Press half the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside.
  5. In another bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the peanut butter and beat until smooth.
  6. Add the egg and beat until mixed in. Pour the cheesecake top of the cookie dough in the pan.
  7. Crumble small pieces of cookie dough over the top of the cheesecake layer. Continue until all the dough has been used and the cheesecake has been covered. Bake for 45 minutes.
  8. Remove and let cool on a wire rack for one hour, and then refrigerate until completely chilled. Cut into 16 bars.
  9. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter chips and 1/2 teaspoon shortening. Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir until melted and smooth.
  10. Spoon into a plastic bag that has one corner cut off. Drizzle over bars.
  11. Place the chocolate chips and 1/2 teaspoon shortening in a bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth. Drizzle over the bars. Keep refrigerated. Makes 16 bars.

Notes

You can also bake these bars in a 9x13 pan, if you want shorter thinner bars. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 496Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 266mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 2gSugar: 37gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

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© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Brownies & Bars

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars - peanut butter cookies layered with peanut butter cheesecake and chocolate make this perfect for the peanut butter lover! Awesome dessert recipe!

I am slightly addicted to Reese’s…here are a few of my favorites.

Marshmallow Reese's Brownies
Marshmallow Reese’s Brownies

Triple Peanut Butter Threat Cheesecakes

Reese’s Peanut Butter Threat Cheesecakes

Reese's Cheesecake Brownies

Reese’s Cheesecake Brownies

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Comments

  3. Sinea Pies says

    So this is your favorite? I can see why.
    Sometimes I wish the blogger could see or hear me when I see a yummy post like this.
    “Oh no!” chuckle, giggle
    “Yikes!” giggle more
    “Oh my goodness!” Pin Pin Pin.
    This is one of those oohs and aahs recipes, that is for sure! How do you guys stay so thin?

    Reply

  9. Laura says

    Can’t wait to try these! Looking for a time-saver though — can you use pre-made cookie dough and add the pb chips to it?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      Yes, grease the pan before adding any dough. Bake for 45 minutes if you are doing the 8×8 pan…no longer or it will be hard!!! Cheesecake always looks undone, but it sets up when it cools and chills. Let me know how it is for you!

      Reply

  19. Marcia says

    Ok, so I am more like your husband. About two bites and I’ll be happy. But I have a church full of sugar lovers (I live in the South after all) who will be thrilled when I try out this new recipe. And my Dad absolutely loves the peanut butter and chocolate idea, so he will be happy if I can make some and take them to him in New York this summer! 🙂 Reese’s are also my favorite, but if they come two to a pack I always share one! 🙂

    Reply

  20. Billie says

    These look great , I want to try these today my son is coming home. Can you use liquid shortening solid?

    Reply

  21. Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com says

    That’s exactly how my hubby is too!! ….but, oh well, leaves more dessert for us when it’s “too sweet” or “too rich” for them – lol! PInned and wish I could be eating this right now even though it’s only 6:30am….never too early to go to the dessert “happy place” though right?! 😉

    Reply

  27. Sara says

    I’m not a huge fan of sweets, but my husband is a dessert FANATIC. It’s like he has a separate stomach just for candy. Definitely making these for Easter, and winning Wife of the Year.
    Quick question: Is there anything I can substitute for the shortening in the topping? Trying to avoid buying another one-use product. Thanks!

    Reply

  29. Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says

    My boyfriend is not a sweet person either. He says something is too sweet and I’m like PFFF you don’t know what you are talking about! LOL More sugar the better 😉 And Reese’s are my fav too and your bars look uberly decadent and delicious. I really could stuff my face right now with these thick bars! Thicker is better!!!

    Reply

  31. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says

    My mom and I do the same thing every time we go out to dinner! My dad gets so mad cuz he thinks we should eat our “meal” and skip dessert, but how on earth can you do that when cheesecake is on the menu?!? Or these bars?!? Purely decadent? Well I’m sold. 😀

    Reply

  32. Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection says

    Nothing better than chocolate and peanut butter…except maybe adding cream cheese to those two. These look so rich and decadent! But I’m pretty sure I could eat the whole pan. I’m definitely not a dessert light weight. 🙂

    Reply

  39. Alyssa says

    These bars look so delicious, I love the combination of the cookie dough and peanut butter flavors! While my husband likes sweets he does not like cheesecake. I think he’s crazy, but at least that means there is more cheesecake for me!

    Reply

  40. Liz says

    I would love these and so would my husband…nothing’s too sweet for him! You’re right in that you can never go wrong with PB and chocolate! Yummy 🙂

    Reply

  43. Karly says

    Girl, I love these. I’m all about chocolate, peanut butter, and cream cheese. It’s magic.

    And the best thing about a dessert light weight for a husband? You get to eat his portion. Or maybe that’s a bad thing? Nah. They make elastic pants for a reason!

    Reply

  48. Brenda says

    I’m sending myy hubby (aka The Peanut Butter Man) to you … this is right up his alley! He will only eat a little … it must be a ‘guy’ thing. Most women that I know work their meal around the dessert!

    Reply

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