Have you ever had a week where all you want to do is bite down into all of the decadent desserts within reach? Because that was me this week.
This week seemed to last a decade. I needed to wind down with some cheesecake.
But sadly, I never have enough cream cheese in my house to actually make a full cheesecake. This is why I have only made a cheesecake with greek yogurt, or when I did try making some with cream cheese, they were mini versions)
Good thing I had enough cream cheese to make these Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars. These is such an easy dessert recipe, and one of the best things that I have ever made.
Plus, this recipe uses ingredients that I usually already have in my pantry. So there is no need to go shopping to make these bars.
These dessert bars don’t last long in my house. They might last two days if I am lucky, but more often than not we can polish them off within the first 24 hours of making them.
So if you want a crowd pleaser for family gatherings or bake sales, I promise you these cheesecakes are perfect!
Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars Ingredients
You just need pantry essentials to make this Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bar recipe. All you need is:
Buttery Graham Cracker Crust:
- graham cracker crumbs
- salted butter
Cookie Dough Layer:
- salted butter
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- chocolate chips
Cheesecake Filling:
- cream cheese
- egg
- white sugar
- vanilla extract
That’s it!
Tips
Storage: Store these chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Because of the cream cheese filling, these cannot be stored at room temperature.
Mixing the cheesecake batter: I would strongly recommend using an electric mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to mix the cream cheese mixture. The other day I used a fork, and my whole arm is still sore. This will make sure you have a creamy cheesecake, and avoid lumps in the cheesecake layer.
Don’t have graham cracker crumbs? Don’t worry! Just place some whole graham crackers into a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. Alternatively, you can place the graham crackers into a large ziplock plastic bag and roll a rolling pin overtop until you are left with crumbs.
Variations
Make it vegan. If you wanted vegan cheesecakes in bar form, you just need a substitute for the egg and cream cheese. For the cream cheese layer, use vegan cream cheese, and replace the egg with 1/4 cup silken tofu.
Switch up the chocolate chips. I love large chunks of chocolate, but mini chocolate chips works well too. You can also try out different flavors like butterscotch or white chocolate.
More Cookie Dough Recipes
Like these Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars? Then you will love these easy recipes for some of my favorite desserts:
- Cookie Dough Brownies – It’s like mixing fudgy brownies with chocolate chip cookies. The best of both worlds!
- Easy Cookie Dough Mini Nutella Cups – You are 3 ingredients away from making these super simple Nutella Cups.
- White Chocolate Coconut Flour Cookie Dough – These cookie dough balls are perfect for every occasion! Plus, they are gluten free.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes – These cupcakes have so much flavor, I can’t stop making them! Combining two of my favorite desserts.
If you try this Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars recipe, let me know! Rate it, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 5 Tbsp salted butter, melted
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- 5 Tbsp salted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Cheesecake filling
- 10 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325˚F. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing a little to hang over the edges, and spray with cooking spray.
- For the Crust: Mix the crust ingredients in a small bowl until fully combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake in the preheated oven and for 6 minutes. Remove and let cool. Do not turn the oven off.
- For the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, mix together the cookie dough ingredients without the chocolate chips. When they are fully combined, fold in the chocolate chips.
- For the Cheesecake Filling: In a separate bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla until fully incorporated.
- Pour the cheesecake batter onto the prepared crust. Flatten the dough a little bit. Distribute the cookie dough on top of the cheesecake batter.
- Bake for around 30 minutes, until the top feels dry and firm. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
yummychunklet
Oh, how insanely good do these look!
Margarita Larrazabal
i ran out of desserts because i ate too many too fast… my week was spent eating one donut hole after another, that's what stress does to me! these look like something that could make me really, really happy right now!
Guru Uru
I could eat this forever my friend, what a gorgeous dessert 😀
Cheers
CCU
Kitchen Riffs
Great idea! Much as I enjoy a cheesecake, having an entire one in the house is dangerous! These are a much better idea. 😉
ahu
I agree with guru! Looks fantastic!
That Girl
We're doing dessert week here too – but you're better than me. I'm making super easy stuff. This is fancy!
Mich PieceofCake
Chocolate chip cookie dough and cream cheese sounds perfect together… this dessert looks incredible.
Natalie G
Cookie dough is my weakness so this bar looks great to me! I need a glass of milk with it though!
Katerina
I feel like that every week of the year lol! These bars are speaking to my heart!
Joanne
The only thing that could make cheesecake better is to add cookie dough! How awesome are these!!
lena
this sounds wonderful! i wish i can hv a slice!eat first, diet later 😀
Amelia
Hi Cathleen, that's a very delicious cookies dough cheesecake. Excellent combination, nice to go with coffee. 🙂
Have a nice day ahead.
Dining Alone
I have had quite a week too, so I had to have some pizza last night 🙂 These look like a great dessert!!
Chelsea Marrs
can not even handle how good that looks! must try asap, thnks!! 🙂
please follow back if you can!
Chelsea m.
http://chowdownbythebay.blogspot.com/
Lynna
YES. I feel like that almost every week. I just want to wolf down every delicious treat I see. These look amazinggg! 😀
Dana
These look awesome! You had me at cookie dough and cheese. 🙂
Angela
Wow! All of my favorite desserts in one! This looks absolutely incredible. Love the different layers. YUM!
atasteofmadness
Definitely in it for the layers!!
Colleen
I definitely need these bars in my life asap! They look amazing, thank for the recipe!
atasteofmadness
Yes!! Everyone needs them 😉
Emily Liao
Oh my, these cheesecake bars were out of this world! Love how they were mixed with cookie dough (as that’s my favorite). And the texture was perfectly soft.
atasteofmadness
I am so glad you liked it Emily! 🙂
Gina
Not sure what I love more, the crust or the filling – SO SO good!
atasteofmadness
So hard to decide!
veenaazmanov
I love the Crust, I love the Dough and I love the filling too. Easy and quick dessert and sweet tooth cravings option.
atasteofmadness
Definitely satisfies my sweet tooth too 🙂
DK Park
This recipe is unique in a good way! How could this recipe be so awesome, and the one that i made using this is delicious!
atasteofmadness
Aww thanks
Jamie
This looks so good! I alwaYs love making cookies! This one is my favorite tho
atasteofmadness
It’s one of my favorite things to make too 🙂