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Shortcut Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars

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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! 

stack of peanut butter cup cheesecake bars on a piece of parchment paper with peanut butter cups next to it

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. 

stack of peanut butter cup cheesecake bars with more bars in the background

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!

cheesecake bar with a bite taken out of it on a plate with more peanut butter cup cheesecake bars in the background

These shortcut peanut butter cup cheesecake bars are a quick and easy dessert, but they're still delicious as can be!
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Shortcut Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Author: Kelsie
Ingredients
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
Glaze:
  • 6 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into cubes
  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
Instructions
Bars:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Bake until slightly browned on top, 30 to 35 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack and cool fully.
Glaze:
  1. 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.
  2. (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

Comments

  2. Miriam @londonkitchendiaries says

    Peanut butter and cheesecake – what a genius flavour combination! Can’t wait for more delicious cheesecake recipes. Have a lovely weekend, Kelsie!

    Miriam xx

    Reply

  3. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

    I could not get into that song for some reason and every time I heard it I had to switch the station. I do love me some Bruno Mars, but was not feeling that song. But these? Yes please! I would not tire of these, that’s for sure! PB plus cheesecake? Such a dreamy combo!! And your cut is perfect! Have an awesome weekend, Kelsie!

    Reply

  4. Milena | craftbeering.com says

    You have made a believer out of me, Kelsie:) I am pretty sure I can handle making these dreamy bars. Looking at them, they are perfect to bring as the dessert for movie night in the park tomorrow! Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      I wanna come to movie night in the park! That sounds like so much fun! I know you can handle making these :). Have a great weekend, Milena!

      Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Thank you Deepika! They include so many of my favorite things, not the least of which is chocolate :). I hope you’re having a great week!

      Reply

  6. Carlee says

    This looks so good! Chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake was my birthday dessert request all throughout high school and your version has me craving it! I’m adding cookie dough to the grocery list!

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      OMG that has to be the best birthday cake EVERRR! Now I’m craving it :). Have a great weekend, Carlee!

      Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Haha! Thank you Liz! I had to go back over the squares to even them out :). Next time I’ll get them right on the first try! Have a great weekend!

      Reply

  8. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

    Oh well, hello another handsome and fabulous cheesecake! Why do your desserts always look so irresistible, Kelsie? This one isn’t the exception. Because peanut butter and chocolate make an excellent combo. And I understand your cheesecake thing. I often have some kind of kicks on a particular idea/recipe/ingredient. So enjoy while you can 🙂

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Thank you Ben! I’m going to soak up every minute of cheesecake making before I tire of it :). Hope your week is going well!

      Reply

  12. evolvewithmary says

    I’m crazy about peanut butter cups. Now you show me these peanut butter cup cheese cake bars and I can hardly contain myself. I need to find an excuse to make these. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

  13. Allie R Taylor says

    KELSIE!!!! I am LOVING these fabulous Cheesecake-ety bars!!! Can’t think of a better chocolate peanut butter cheesecake combination than you’ve got going here. And I would NEVER skip that top layer of chocolate glaze. No. Way. 🙂 Photos are awesome – excellent recipe and post!!! Happy weekend!

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Thank you so much Allie! I would never skip the extra chocolate either :). Happy weekend right back at you!

      Reply

  18. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    I love that you added in “don’t worry about the salmonella” haha you’re awesome. I thought I was the only one who thought like that. Keep the cheesecakes coming! Specifically, ones with tiny peanut butter cups….delic!!

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Hahaha! No, I always try to warn people about health concerns even though I couldn’t care less about a little salmonella in my cookie dough :). Hope you have a great weekend, Katherine!

      Reply

  21. marcie@flavorthemoments says

    Kelsie, these just look insanely good! I love cheesecake and PB&C, so I’m head over heels for these!

    Reply

  22. 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. 🙂

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  23. 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 😀

    Reply

  27. 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 (;

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  28. 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!!

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      Thank you so much, Alia! Peanut butter cups and cheesecake are definitely two of my favorite things :). Have a great weekend!

      Reply

  31. 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 !

    Reply

    • Kelsie says

      The cheesecake mood is going around I think :). Thank you Lynne! Cookie sends hugs right back. Have a great weekend!

      Reply

  33. 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!

    Reply

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