Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

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These luscious, chocolate chip cheesecake bars with an Oreo cookie crust are rich, creamy and delicious. Like squares of chocolate heaven. Enjoy these easy-to-make, decadent dessert bars on Valentine’s Day and other special occasions.

📌 Pin Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

🛒 Ingredients

For Oreo Cookie Crust

• Oreo Chocolate Cookie Crumbs*: Provide the base for the crust. They offer a chocolatey and slightly sweet foundation. At the market, look for this product in the baking aisle. It’s a box of pre-crushed Oreo cookies ready to go. In the USA it’s labeled “Oreo Chocolate Cookie Crumbs”. In Canada: “Oreo Baking Crumbs.” Or you can crush whole Oreo cookies (no need to scrape out the middle) in a food processor.
• Salted Butter (melted): Binds the crushed cookies together, creating a cohesive and slightly crumbly crust. Butter provides the best flavor, but if you don’t have it on hand feel free to use margarine instead.
• Granulated Sugar (optional): Adds sweetness to the crust. It’s completely optional, as adding 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar depends on personal preference and the sweetness of the Oreo crumbs.

For Cheesecake Layer

• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Or a semi-sweet chocolate baking bar. They provide the rich chocolaty flavor we love in this chocolate chip cheesecake.
• Heavy Cream: Its high fat content imparts a luxurious creaminess to the chocolate cheesecake. It helps create a smooth velvety texture, making each bite rich and decadent.
• Cream cheese (bricks not tubs): This is the main component of the cheesecake layer. It provides richness and creaminess for a delicious mouthfeel.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cheesecake layer, balancing the tanginess of the cream cheese.
• Sour Cream: Similar to heavy cream, it contributes creaminess to the cheesecake. It promotes a soft, tender texture for a delicate melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
• Cocoa Powder: A key ingredient in this recipe. Its rich, intense cocoa taste provides the deep chocolaty flavor that defines these chocolate chip cheesecake bars.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the cheesecake. It also provides a delicious bakery aroma.
• Large Eggs: Act as a binder, contributing to the structure and texture of the cheesecake.
• Flaky Salt (optional): This finishing salt enhances the flavor of chocolate.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Best baking pans for this recipe: For square cheesecake bars, use a square 8-inch USA Pan. If you don’t have one in your collection, sub with a round 9-inch cake pan. Both pans hold the same quantity, so there’s no need to adjust the oven temperature or the baking time for this dessert bar recipe.
• How to soften a block of cream cheese quickly: Remove 8-ounce block of cream cheese from its foil wrapper. Put unwrapped cheese on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 15 seconds, or until softened. Another method: place the cream cheese (in its un-punctured foil wrapper) in a bowl of warm tap water for 15 minutes. For even softening, turn the block over every 5 minutes.
• How to prevent the cheesecake bars from cracking on top: Avoid overmixing the batter, as this can introduce excess air. If desired, bake the bars in a water bath to create a more humid environment in the oven, preventing the cheesecake from drying out and cracking.
• How to make this dessert extra special: Top each serving with a small piece of chocolate. Favorites include See’s Candies, Ferrero Rocher, or Lindt truffles. Or just before serving, garnish the bars with flaky sea salt, chocolate curls, a dusting of finely-grated artisan chocolate, a drizzle of chocolate ganache, or dollops of homemade whipped cream.
• How to cleanly slice chocolate cheesecake bars: After cheesecake has chilled 6 hours, it’s ready for slicing. Use a sharp warm knife. Fill a tall glass with warm water. Dip the knife into the water, then wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth. Make the first slice. Wipe off the blade, dip it in warm water, and repeat. The result is neat, clean slices.

📖 Recipe Steps

Oreo Cookie Crust

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a square 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper, and lightly spray it with cooking spray.

1. Melt the butter on stovetop or in the microwave.
2. Add Oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter to a mixing bowl.
3. With a wooden spoon, stir until well combined. The mixture should resemble wet sand.
4. Transfer crumb mixture to prepared baking pan. With the back of a metal measuring cup, press it into an even, firm, compact layer. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool on a wire rack. This brief pre-baking enhances the crispness of the crust.

Cheesecake Layer

1. In a small microwave-safe bowl, add chocolate and heavy cream. Heat 1 minute at 50% power, then whisk to combine. If chocolate is not fully melted, microwave in 15 second increments, whisking after each session. IMPORTANT: Put the bowl aside so the mixture can shed heat.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment, cream the softened cream cheese until smooth. Switch to the paddle attachment. Add granulated sugar. Mix until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate to the mixture (make sure it’s melted but not overly warm or it can make the filling seize up) along with sour cream, vanilla, and cocoa powder.
3. Mix to combine, stopping as needed to scrape down sides of the bowl with a spatula. With mixer on low speed, add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Pour the cheesecake filling over the Oreo cookie crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until the center is set and no longer jiggles when the pan is lightly shaken back and forth.
4. Remove pan from oven. Set on a wire rack to cool to room temperature. Transfer uncovered pan to the fridge to chill for 6 to 8 hours (ideally overnight). Make sure it’s stored far away from odorous foods. After the initial chilling time in the fridge, cover the pan with plastic wrap until it’s time to slice the slab into bars.

Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Those who’ve experienced the joy of these chocolate chip cheesecake bars with Oreo crust rave about how luscious this decadent dessert is. I’ve been asked to make these celebratory treats for birthdays and special occasions.

If you too enjoyed this delicious recipe, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend or two!

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