Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Dessert lovers have such a variety of choices when it comes to flavors. There are so many desserts that can highlight the punchy flavor of lemon or sweetly tart strawberries. If you love coffee? A chocolate mocha cake is sure to please. But if you're a big fan of chocolate and peanut butter together, these chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bars are sure to become your new favorite dessert.

Imagine a flavorful chocolate cookie crust as the perfect base. Then, add a luscious peanut butter cheesecake topping to the mix. Even better? You can take the appearance and flavor of these bars up another notch with the addition of classic candies such as Reese's Pieces and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. These treats are truly meant for the diehard chocolate and peanut butter lovers out there, creating the perfect dessert.

Don't be intimidated if it looks tricky to pull off a two-layered bar. With easy-to-find ingredients, this dessert can be prepped in no time. Truly, the hardest part is just being patient enough for your bars to chill and set so you can dig in and take a bite! 

Ready to get started on making these decadent treats? For these chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bars you'll need 2 sticks of butter, white sugar, brown sugar, 4 eggs, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, an 8-ounce brick of cream cheese, peanut butter, Reese's Pieces and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Of course, if you're not a fan of those candies, you can omit them, if desired. Replace them with chocolate sprinkles or another garnish to dress up the finished bars. 

To dive in on making these bars, preheat your oven to 350 F and give it time to get to the proper temperature. In a large mixing bowl, start by creaming the butter, 1 cup white sugar, and the brown sugar together. Use a hand mixer to mix the ingredients until they're light and fluffy. Then, mix in 2 eggs.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk the mixture to combine, then gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. 

Press the prepared dough into a greased 9x13-inch pan and bake it for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookie bar base to cool while you make the peanut butter cheesecake topping. 

While the chocolate cookie base cools, make the peanut butter cheesecake topping. Add the softened cream cheese, ½ cup peanut butter, and the remaining ½ cup white sugar into a bowl. Be sure the cream cheese is fully softened for best results — this will help eliminate any clumps in the filling. 

Use a hand mixer to whip the mixture until combined. Next, mix in the remaining two eggs. Whip this mixture until completely smooth and fluffy.

Pour the peanut butter layer on top of the chocolate cookie layer and spread it with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with some of the crushed Reese's Pieces, if desired. Return the pan to the oven and bake the bars for 20 minutes until slightly jiggly. You'll notice the edges beginning to crack, which is fine. Once done, remove the bars from the oven and set them aside to begin cooling.

Once the bars are just about completely cooled, it's time to dress them even further. Use a sharp knife to chop the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups into small chunks. Crush the Reese's Pieces as well. Sprinkle the top of the bars with the Reese's Pieces and chunks of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Lastly, melt the remaining tablespoon of peanut butter in the microwave. Drizzle the top of the bars with the peanut butter.

After the bars have been topped, transfer the pan to the fridge. Allow the bars to fully cool and set for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares and serving.