These shortcut peanut butter cup cheesecake bars feature a chocolate chip cookie crust and a creamy peanut butter cup cheesecake filling. They’re must for chocolate and peanut butter lovers!
Annnnnnd after a brief respite we’re back to cheesecakes, in the form of easy cheesecake bars!
Remember a few summers ago when you just couldn’t get away from “Uptown Funk” and you loved it and hated it and wanted to break your radio but couldn’t help singing along every time it came on?
I feel like I’m heading in that direction with cheesecake recipes. I can’t resist making more and more cheesecakes because I have all these flavor combos spinning around in my head. And I just have to see how they turn out! I’m at the point where I think if I look at one more brick of cream cheese my head will explode. But if I don’t bite the bullet and stare down that cream cheese I’ll always wonder. . .how delicious could a peanut butter cup cheesecake be?
Turns out it’s very, very delicious. Although if I’m being fair, could it be anything BUT delicious?
So anyway, I hope you’re not sick of cheesecakes yet! Because today’s recipe is a little different.
I’m all about the sweet treats that I can whip up at a moment’s notice, and while my no-bake cheesecakes are super quick and easy, they take more like three or four moments to prepare.
Enter these shortcut peanut butter cup cheesecake bars! The crust is made with store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough, and the filling is studded with little bits of the dough too. (Don’t worry—they bake so you’re not eating anything that is potentially ridden with salmonella.)
You press your cookie dough into the pan, mix up your filling, top with the remaining cookie dough and VOILA! That’s it. So super easy even non-bakers can do it and be successful.
In no time flat, these shortcut peanut butter cup cheesecake bars will satisfy all your chocolate-y, peanut butter-y, cheesecake-ety cravings. (Cheesecake-ety sounds better than cheesecake-y doesn’t it?)
I added a simple chocolate glaze to make these cheesecake bars even more over-the-top but you can absolutely skip that step if you’re short on time. Your easy cheesecake bars will still be insanely delicious!
Because they’re so quick and simple to whip up I think they’d be the perfect addition to those last-minute BBQs that seem to pop up this time of year. You’ll totally be the hit of the party.
Have a great afternoon, and may your weekend be filled with cheesecake bars!
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped mini peanut butter cups
- 1 16-ounce package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
- 6 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, egg, vanilla, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer set to medium speed until very smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Fold in the chopped peanut butter cups.
- Press two-thirds to three-quarters of the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pans—enough to cover the bottom in an even layer. Pour the cheesecake mixture evenly over the cookie layer and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Break up remaining cookie dough into small pieces and sprinkle over the cheesecake layer.
- Bake until slightly browned on top, 30 to 35 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack and cool fully.
- Combine all ingredients in the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water. Stir until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Remove pan from the heat and stir chocolate mixture for 1 minute to cool it down slightly. Pour over cooled cheesecake bars and smooth with an offset spatula. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until glaze sets, before cutting into bars and serving.
- (Uneaten bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge up to 2 weeks. In the freezer they last a few months.)
Adapted from: Sweetness
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
I don’t think I like people that get tired of cheesecake. The aren’t normal. This is one delicious looking concoction and I love that you make them into bars and it’s totally a decadent idea to put a ganache on them too!
Kelsie says
Haha! I think I agree with you :). Thank you so much, Julie!
Teesh Osita says
These look so delicious! i can even imagine sinking my teeth into it
Kelsie says
Thank you Teesh! I’ll send you a batch!
lynne hoareau says
Another genius recipe Kelsie ! and, another recipe to my list to do. I seem to be in a cheesecake mood these days and I am not complaining! I swear I am going to be the size of a house by the time my list is completed 🙂 Have an awesome rest of your day – Hugs to Cookie !
Kelsie says
The cheesecake mood is going around I think :). Thank you Lynne! Cookie sends hugs right back. Have a great weekend!
Alia @ Everyday Easy Eats says
These look divine! I LOVE cheesecake and peanut butter cups. That’s so creative how you used cookie dough in the recipe for the crust and filling! Great work!! 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Alia! Peanut butter cups and cheesecake are definitely two of my favorite things :). Have a great weekend!
grace says
other flavor combos can try, but they’ll never be better than chocolate and pb!
Kelsie says
Right? Chocolate and peanut butter for life!
Kelly says
There can never be too many cheesecakes especially when they’re loaded with the PB cup & cookie dough goodies! They look SO incredible, Kelsie!!
Kelsie says
Haha! I agree completely, Kelly! Thank you!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
i feel like i love a song when it first hits the radio, and then i’m over it within a week (ie “despacito”). anyways, there’s never enough cheesecake!! and when it feels like maybe there is, that’s when sharing comes in handy (;
Kelsie says
If they just wouldn’t play new songs in such heavy rotation they’d have a longer shelf life :). Totally agree that there’s never enough cheesecake! Have a fab week, Heather!
Kate says
These look downright sinful. I want them. 🙂
Kelsie says
Haha! I’ll send you a batch, Kate!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
You seriously have genius recipe ideas Kelsie…this looks so amazing and with my busy days, I am happy with anything shortcut…so this dessert is perfect. Love it!!!?
Kelsie says
Thank you Ashika! I hope you have a fabulous week, my friend!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
May my WEEK be filled with these cheesecake bars! I’d like to munch on these while dancing around to ‘Uptown Funk’! Pinned!! 🙂
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you Annie! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Emma says
I am all for kitchen shortcuts, they save time and often money as well. I could live on cheesecakes so please keep them coming. Anything with PB in them means I am going to go nuts for these 😀
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you love cheesecake like I do! Thank you Emma! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
David @ Spiced says
Ummmm…why are these not in my kitchen already?? My birthday is actually tomorrow, so if you overnight me a batch of these then I won’t need to get a birthday cake. I’ll just shove a candle in one (or six) of these bars, and I’ll consider it a victory! As long as you keep producing amazing cheesecakes like this, then I promise I won’t get tired of ’em. Plus, these are some of your best photos yet! Excellent work all around on these. The only missing part is figuring out how to make them move from your kitchen to mine quickly. 🙂
Kelsie says
Hmmmmm. I shipped them off a few days ago so you should have them by now :). Happy birthday tomorrow! I hope Robbie bakes you an awesome cake in case the bars don’t get there. And thank you so much for the photo love. It’s always a struggle but I was looking at some of my much older pics today and can’t even believe the difference. Have a great rest of your weekend, my friend!
marcie@flavorthemoments says
Kelsie, these just look insanely good! I love cheesecake and PB&C, so I’m head over heels for these!
Kelsie says
Thank you Marcie! Have a great weekend!