CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH CHEESECAKE BARS

Filed Under Desserts
Ingredients
Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips
Cheesecake Filling:
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil allowing a little overhang; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.  Mix the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs until thoroughly combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove pan to a cooling rack. Do not turn your oven off.

While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. With an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Mix in the flour on low speed, until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla on low speed just until incorporated. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust. Sprinkle the cookie dough onto the top of the cheesecake batter in teaspoon-sized clumps.   Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm. Move bars to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. Lift the bars out by the overhang; cool and then slice into desired size. Serve cold or at room temperature.  Keep leftovers refrigerated.

Let's Dish
Two of the best desserts ever--chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake--in one yummy bar.  It's pure genius! My family raved about how good these were.  They all asked for seconds, although they were a bit too rich (in a good way) for me to have two servings back to back.  I may or may not have had my second helping for breakfast.

Who Dished It Up First
Adapted from My Baking Addiction.