Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cookie Bars

One of my favorite things on earth is chocolate.  Another is cream cheese, but not by itself.....it has to be mixed with something.  I add it to enchilada sauce, corn casserole, funeral potatoes, desserts.......the list can go on, but I won't bore you with it.  When I stumbled upon this recipe I had to try it since it involved chocolate and cream cheese.  You can't go wrong with those two ingredients!!!!


I made these bars to bring along on our vacation....or Bacation according to my son.  I didn't want to be busy making goodies in our condo when I could be enjoying the mountain views so I made them ahead of time and stored them in an airtight container in the cooler.     

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 light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Cheesecake Filling:
10 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions: 
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line an 8" square baking pan foil allowing a little overhang and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. 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 and set aside to cool.
3. While the crust is cooling, prepare the chocolate chip cookie dough. In the bowl beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth.  Mix in the flour and mix until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared crust.  Make cookie dough into balls and drop over the cream cheese mixture.   Eat some dough because you can't make cookie dough and not eat it.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the cookie dough is done.  Allow to cool completely and refrigerate a couple hours.
6. Lift the bars out by the overhang and cut into squares for serving.


{{{HUGS}}}