Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Perhaps you are looking for something different to prepare for the remainder of your holiday gatherings, or stuff to do with the kids while everyone is out of school?  This is super easy, definitely not fussy or complicated, and family friendly!
 

I was browsing the internet recently and saw a recipe similar to this, but using all homemade components.  Sounded great, but I know that during the busy holidays, not everyone is interested in taking that much time to make everything from scratch.  So I simplified this to make it more "busy mom friendly." 

Print this recipe!   

Ingredients:    

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 5 Tbsp melted butter
• ~ 2/3 roll of prepared chocolate chip cookie dough
• 10 oz cream cheese, room temperature (I used the reduced fat version)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla

Step-by-Step:
Crust -  Let's start on that crust.. add 5 Tbsp melted butter to 1 1/2 cups graham crackers.  Combine with a fork until it resembles very coarse sand.   If you are in a time pinch, graham cracker crumbs are available in the "already crumbs" form; but making crumbs is a great thing to let the kids do.  Throw them in a zip top bag and let them pound them into crumbs.

Press into an 8"x8" pan which you have prepared with parchment paper (enough to hang over the sides) and a bit of cooking spray.   

I used my meat pounder for this, but the bottom of a drinking glass would work just fine.

Bake at 325 for about 6 min. 

Filling -  With a mixer, cream together the room temperature cream cheese and sugar.  Add the room temperature egg and vanilla and beat enough to combine. 

10 oz reduced fat cream cheese at room temp + 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

Pour the filling over the baked crust.

 

Topping -  Break the prepared cookie into pieces about the size of a large marble.  Flatten them slightly into disks and place them over the filling.  You will almost completely cover the filling.

Bake -   Bake uncovered at 325 F for about 30 minutes.  The cookie dough should look dry and the cream cheese should be "set" when you jiggle it. 

Grasp the batter by the parchment paper hanging over the pan and lift it out, setting it on a cooling rack. 

Cut into bars when cool. 

Perfect for a big glass of milk, a cup of coffee, or a nice hot cup of tea.

I hope you have enjoyed this recipe!  There are certainly plenty more where this came from.  Why don't you hop on over to my  Recipe Index to see what else I've been cooking.

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Written Method:
Crust - Combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter for the crust.  Press into an 8"x8" pan which you have prepared with parchment paper (enough to hang over the sides) and a bit of cooking spray.  Bake at 325 for about 6 min.   Set aside while you prepare the filling.

Filling -  With a mixer, cream together the room temperature cream cheese and sugar.  Add the room temperature egg and vanilla and beat enough to combine.  Pour the filling over the baked crust.

Topping -  Break the prepared cookie into pieces about the size of a large marble.  Flatten them slightly into disks and place them over the filling.  You will almost completely cover the filling.

Bake -   Bake uncovered at 325 F for about 30 minutes.  The cookie dough should look dry and the cream cheese should be "set" when you jiggle it.  Grasp the batter by the parchment paper hanging over the pan and lift it out, setting it on a cooling rack.  Cut into bars when cool.