Eating cheesecake that takes after a candy bar is definitely something you want to try. Wait until you take a bite of these Take 5 Cheesecake Brownies. You will always want your brownies this way.
What can I say? I couldn’t help but make another cheesecake recipe for you. Especially with it being National Cheesecake Day and all. This is definitely a day that had to be celebrated for sure. We just love making cheesecake over here a little too much.
Have you seen this Strawberrylicious Chocolate Cheesecake or this Mocha Oreo Cheesecake? Those were some of the very first cheesecake creations that we have come up with…and we haven’t stopped since then.
It is safe to say that cheesecake is one of the top things I love to bake the most. There are just so many different ways to enjoy the creamy goodness. Pie, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, no bake, parfaits…I could go on and on. Clearly I have thought about this a little too much and a little too long 🙂
Today’s cheesecake was a combination of two other desserts that I made a few years ago. I combined these Caramel Pretzel Cheesecake Brownies with these Take 5 Bars…best idea ever!!!
Take 5 candy bars are one of my favorites. I think mostly because of the salty and the sweet together. And this cheesecake offers you all of the same flavors.
I started with a crunchy pretzel layer. I chopped them coarsely because I wanted a good crunch for the brownies to sit on. Peanuts and melted peanut butter got added to the brownie layer. And then a caramel cheesecake layer went right on top of everything. It was pure torture waiting for this to bake and then chill. I was so excited to eat these brownies. Of course I had to jazz them up even further by adding a caramel and chocolate drizzle to the top. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Melty drizzly caramel makes me go weak in the knees.
Drop everything you are doing today!
You need to make these Take 5 Cheesecake Brownies right away. National Cheesecake Day only comes once a year…let’s celebrate it in style this year.
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Take 5 Cheesecake Brownies
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 cups coarsely chopped pretzels
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
For the Cheesecake Brownies
- 1 - 9x13 box brownie mix
- 1 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup caramel baking bits
- 2 teaspoons whipping cream
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Combine the pretzels, sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool.
- In a mixing bowl, make the brownie mix according to the directions on the back of the box. Stir in the chopped peanuts.
- Gently spoon the brownie batter over the cooled pretzel crust.
- Place the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir until creamy. Drop by spoonfuls onto the brownie batter. Very gently swirl the peanut butter with a knife. Do not go all the way through to the crust. You want to only swirl the top.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and caramel topping until creamy.
- Gently spoon the cheesecake onto the brownie batter. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut into 24 squares.
- In a small saucepan heat the caramel bits and whipping cream until melted. Drizzle with a spoon over cheesecake squares.
- Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir until creamy. Spoon into a plastic bag with one tip cut off. Drizzle over squares. Keep refrigerated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 253 Total Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 8g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 45mg Sodium: 207mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 15g Protein: 5g
More of our favorite cheesecake recipes:
Chocolate Chip Nutella Cheesecake Cupcakes
Coconut Cream Cheesecake Brownies
Peanut Butter Snickers Cheesecake Brownie Pie
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
July 30, 2013 at 12:42 PMI am a huge fan of take 5 candy bars! I made a pie with them once. I love this idea of cheesecake brownies!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:19 PMThanks so much Ashley!! 😉
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says
July 30, 2013 at 1:08 PMOh, my word! These photos are making me droooool on my keyboard!! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:20 PMThanks so much Marci!! 😉
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
July 30, 2013 at 1:47 PMThey sound awesome! What a great combination of flavors!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:23 PMThanks so much Lindsay!! 😉
Nicole Underwood says
July 30, 2013 at 2:37 PMShut the front door! These look ridiculously tasty!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:27 PMThanks so much Nicole!! 😉
Raquel @ Organized Island says
July 30, 2013 at 2:48 PMThe cheesecake brownies look delicious Joceyln! Cheesecake, caramel and chocolate are all on my favorites list!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:27 PMThank you Raquel!! 😉
Gloria @ Simply Gloria says
July 30, 2013 at 3:39 PMYou can bring on the cheesecake any day, my friend! In fact, I’m got cheesecake in the oven as I type. These are looking super dangerously delicious!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:29 PMThanks so much Gloria!! Yay for cheesecake! 😉
[email protected] says
July 30, 2013 at 5:31 PMThose are crazy decadent! I love a good cheesecake layer or swirl in my brownies, and you kicked it up a bunch of notches from there. They look delicious!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:30 PMThanks Marci!! 😉 They are seriously too good!!
Wendy says
July 30, 2013 at 6:28 PMI don’t know how you come up with these creations, Jocelyn, but I am so glad you do!! You have packed these with crunchy, chewy, smooth, and gooey…..all in one little bar! I am awed! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:40 PMThanks so much Wendy!! 😉 I definitely dream dessert!
CathyK says
July 30, 2013 at 8:24 PMOh goodness, I am drooling!!! I have got to try this!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:40 PMThanks Cathy!! 😉
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
July 30, 2013 at 9:43 PMI love all your cheesecake brownies, especially this one! And that you used greek yogurt in the cheesecake. YUM!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:41 PMThanks so much Dorothy!! 😉
Karly says
July 30, 2013 at 11:03 PMTake Five bars are totally my favorite too! Love this cheesecake!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:41 PMThanks Karly!! 😉
Tieghan says
July 30, 2013 at 11:18 PMTake five bars!! Oh, heck yes! These are so delicious looking. I love all you brownie cheesecakes!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:42 PMThanks so much Teighan!! 😉
[email protected] says
July 31, 2013 at 11:04 AMLove all of the variations of cheesecake that you come up with, especially this sweet & salty one! Definitely need to try!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:42 PMThanks so much Jessica!! 😉
Chels R. says
July 31, 2013 at 4:49 PMI love love love those cute little milk bottles-totes adorbs!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:44 PMMe too!! They are one of my favorite props! 😉
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
July 31, 2013 at 4:50 PMMmm these look wonderful! Keep making more 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:52 PMThanks Julie!! I absolutely will, I don’t think I could stop if I tried! 😉
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
July 31, 2013 at 5:25 PMGOOD HEAVENS, ya crazy woman! I am in LOVE with this recipe. Take 5 bars are SO stinkin’ good, and making it into a sinful brownie cheesecake? That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:53 PMHaha, thanks so much Hayley!! 😉
Lynn H @ Turnips 2 Tangerines says
August 2, 2013 at 11:28 AMYum~ Great recipe:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:54 PMThanks Lynn!! 😉
Renee @ Awesome on $20 says
August 2, 2013 at 7:08 PMCan you believe I’ve never had a Take 5? What’s wrong with me? Every time I hear people talk about them, I think they sound amazing, but then I always forget to buy one and try it out. These cheesecake brownies look absolutely amazing.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 3, 2013 at 11:55 PMThanks Renee!! You definitely need to try a Take 5, and then try this cheesecake too!! 😉
[email protected] says
August 2, 2013 at 8:14 PMThat looks sooo yummy !! Oh, I want one right now 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 4, 2013 at 12:04 AMThanks Lyuba!! 😉
Maria says
August 3, 2013 at 2:52 PMOh my goodness, all of these look SO GOOD!!!! I’ve been wanting to try some cheesecake brownies too, since I love both so much, and your recipes just look amazing!!!!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 4, 2013 at 12:11 AMThanks so much Maria!! 😉
Liz Fourez says
August 3, 2013 at 5:42 PMYay!! I’m so excited to finally see the recipe! I’m sure they won’t be nearly as pretty as yours, but I’m definitely going to re-create them myself! P.S. my boys want to know when I’m having another play date with my cute friend, Jocelyn : )
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 4, 2013 at 12:17 AMThanks so much Liz!! 😉 I’m sure yours will look great!! Haha, your boys are too sweet!!!
suburbsmama says
August 3, 2013 at 9:04 PMOh my goodness! Those are making my mouth water! If you get a chance, please link up to the Suburbsmamam Sunday Linky Party going on now: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/08/sunday-linky-19.html
Jocelyn Brubaker says
August 4, 2013 at 12:18 AMThanks so much!! 😉
nancy pfeifer says
August 4, 2013 at 6:02 PMOHHH NO WAY!!!! This looks to die for!!! I hope you linked this week- http://atozebracelebrations.com/2013/07/link-party-tuesday-july-30-2013.html
Nancy
catherine says
March 17, 2014 at 1:12 PMJocelyn,
I made the Take 5 Cheesecake Brownies this weekend for my sister’s birthday. Her favorite candy bar. These were awesome and we couldn’t stop eating them! I did notice a minor error in the recipe. In the directions you say to add the sour cream but you don’t have sour cream in the ingredient list. I am assuming the greek yogurt is a substitute for sour cream but you don’t state that. Either way I figured it out and they were great!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
March 17, 2014 at 4:20 PMWhoops! Thanks for catching that for me. I fixed the recipe to be all the same. I am so glad your family loved the bars!!!
Jayne says
February 6, 2015 at 5:55 PMWow! Scrolling facebook and ran across your recipe. Went to your page and was amazed at the interesting, different from the usual, brownie recipes. Keep up the experimenting and sharing the fruits of your labor with us.