Cookie Dough Brownie and Cheesecake Bars #Creative Cookie Exchange

Are they cookies? Are they Brownies? Is it a cheesecake? These were the questions floating around the living room. No one was asking me, but the guessing game was on. Sometimes I let them wonder without telling them what I am up to. Seeing me make a batch of cookie dough, whip up cream cheese with eggs and mix a batch of eggs and chocolates, the spouse and the offspring were trying to guess what I was making. Usually I finish my baking before the kid gets home, so she can come home to a fresh batch of goodies and enjoy them before heading out for the next activity of the day. But some times life happens and I end up baking well after dinner time. This was one such day.

So I let them wonder and kept working. The batch of brownies came out, the house was smelling brownie like and  people were waiting for it cool down when I layered it with cheesecake and topped with the chocolate chip cookie dough. It might have raised some eyebrows but by now they have gotten used to some unique type of creations every once a while. So in anticipation they waited and finally after much patience for waiting for the photos to be taken, they ate a few of these Cookie Dough Brownie and Cheesecake Bars with some milk. Patience pays in cookies!

I minimally adapted the recipe for Cookie Dough Brownie and Cheesecake Bars from the Brownie Bottom Cookie Dough Cheesecake recipe from  Handle the Heat . I used a brownie recipe that works for me, and used the idea for the bars from Tessa’s blog.

The theme this month for the Creative Cookie Exchange  is Layered Bar Cookies–if you like crispy, crunchy, chewy, creamy or gooey layers packed into one cookie you have come to the right place!! If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura at thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com and she will get you added to our Facebook group, where we discuss our cookies and share links.

You can also just use us as a great resource for cookie recipes–be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month!

Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of our bloggers have made this month:

• Caramel Swirled Cheesecake Bars from The Spiced Life
• Hawaiian Layer Bars from Food Lust People Love
• Praline Pecan Coconut Shortbread Bars from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Cookie Dough Brownie and Cheesecake Bars from Spiceroots
• Club Chocolate Peanut Butter Layered Bars from Our Good Life
• Nanaimo Bars from A Shaggy Dough Story
• Gooey Pumpkin Cookie Bars from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Magic Peanut Butter S’mores Cookie Bars from Rhubarb and Honey
• Double chocolate caramel squares from Flours and Frostings
• Caramel Apple Bar Cookies from 2CookinMamas
• Layered cookies for Bappa from ISingCakes and More
• Churros Cheesecake Bars from A Baker’s House

Print

Cookie Dough Brownie and Cheesecake Bars #Creative Cookie Exchange

Ingredients

For the brownies

• 1 1/4 sticks butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

For the cheesecake layer

• 16 oz cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/2 C sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 tsp salt

For Cookie dough

• ¼ C unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
• a pinch of baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
• 2 tbs milk
• 3/4 C all purpose flour
• 1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Make the Brownies

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
2. Melt the butter then add sugar, cocoa, and salt. Mix until the mixture is smooth. It will look gritty and thick. Allow to cool before adding the eggs.
3. Once the mixture is cool to touch, stir in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition. Mix until the batter looks shiny then add the flour and stir until the flour is completely mixed in. Do not over mix.
4. Spread the brownie batter into the pan and bake for 12 – 15 minutes. You want to remove it before they are completely done as they will bake again with the rest of the ingredients.
5. Remove and let cool for about 30 minutes to an hour.

Make the cookie dough

1. Beat the butter, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and milk in the stand mixer. Once the mixture is fluffy, stop the mixer and gradually add the flour and mix with a spatula until combined. Add in the chocolate chips. Mix and remove from the mixer, set aside in another bowl.

The cheesecake layer

1. Clean and dry the mixer bowl and then add cream cheese and sugar and using a paddle attachment, mix until well combined and smooth. Add in the salt and beat in the eggs one at a time and combine until just mixed in completely.
2. Pour this over the now cooled brownie. Spread the cookie dough batter on top the cheesecake. You could alternately scoop out small cookies from the dough and place them on the cheese layer like I did.
3. Bake at 325°F for 40 to 50 minutes. The cheesecake will set and cookie dough will look a light brown. Allow to come to room temperature before letting it cool in the fridge overnight or at least a few hours. Cut into desired shapes.