Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars

These Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars have a cookie crust of peanut butter, chocolate chips, oats, and M&Ms with a layer of cheesecake in the middle. Cut these into squares for the perfect potluck dessert.

MONSTER COOKIE CHEESECAKE BARS

I’m so excited to share these Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars with you today from my friend Jocelyn’s (Inside Bru Crew Life) new cookbook Cheesecake Love: Inventive, Irresistible, and Super-Easy Cheesecake Desserts for Every Day.

You guys know how I ate this Monster Cookie Dough Dip by myself so I knew these would be dangerous too.

One thing I really feel strongly about is that whatever you are passionate about you should develop, grow, and make your life’s work about. I’ve seen friends excel at Beachbody coaching, modeling, writing novels, painting, you name it.

If you have a true love for something and put in hard work, you can absolutely be successful. Not using your talents, not putting yourself out there is such a waste.

I’m doing a horrible job at articulating what I’m trying to say. Basically, if you love food, start a food blog (ahem). If you love to run, run a freaking marathon. Just do it. Stop talking about it. Right?

When I heard Jocelyn was coming out with a cheesecake cookbook my first thought was, “Of course! Why wouldn’t she?”

When I think cheesecake, I think Jocelyn. She is the cheesecake queen. I can’t think of a single person more qualified than her to write a cheesecake cookbook.

Success and opportunities come when you are doing what you are already doing. She didn’t just start a blog. She’s one of the OGs. She’s been making cheesecake for years and so when the opportunity came, BAM! Cheesecake cookbook.

What is your thang? What makes you happy? What can you do for hours and time flies by?

Mine has always been eating. Baking. Eating. Cooking. Hello gym membership.

There is nothing more I love to do. Nothing. I get excited to make food, take pictures of it, then write about it. It’s all part of this process that I’ve come to not only love but know like the back of my hand.

The truth behind these bars is that I caught my son lying to me and after a talk about honesty his punishment was to help me make these.

I know, I know. I’m probably going to send him to therapy for doing it but it was a baking session filled with teaching moments, patience, and bonding.

OTHER CHOCOLATE RECIPES:

Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars

4.80 from 5 votes

These Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars have a cookie crust of peanut butter, chocolate chips, oats, and M&Ms with a layer of cheesecake in the middle. Cut these into squares for the perfect potluck dessert.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients

For the Cookie Crust:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup M&M's candies, divided

For the Cheesecake: (see note)

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, melted
• 2 large eggs

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick baking spray.
• For the cookie crust: Beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter and beat until creamy. 
• Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine.
• Stir together the salt, baking soda, flour, and oats in a bowl. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat until incorporated. 
• Stir in the chocolate chips and 3/4 cups of M&M candies by hand. 
• Press half of the cookie dough in the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the remaining dough. Bake the bottom crust for 5 minutes then remove from the oven.
• For the Cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the granulated sugar and beat until smooth. 
• Add the melted chocolate and beat until creamy. 
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Make sure the eggs are fully incorporated but do not overbeat the batter.
• Spread the cheesecake batter over the cookie dough in the pan. Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the cheesecake batter. 
• Bake the cheesecake for 30-35 minutes or until dough is golden brown and the cheesecake is set.
• Remove pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Carefully place the remaining 1/4 cup of M&Ms on top and press down slightly (see note). Let the cheesecake cool for one hour and then refrigerate it for 4 hours or until completely chilled. Cut into 24 bars before serving.

Notes

M&M's will crack if they heat up too much so adding them to the top after they've baked is the secret to keeping them looking pretty.

I chose to go with a regular cheesecake layer here but the chocolate cheesecake layer is very good too.

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Christy Denney

Christy Denney

Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!

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