Description
Whipping up chocolate chip cheesecake bars brings pure joy right to your kitchen counter. Creamy cheesecake meets classic chocolate chips in a delightful dessert that disappears faster than you can slice them.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and grab a 9×9-inch baking pan. Coat the pan’s interior completely with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt ½ cup unsalted butter and mix it thoroughly with 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs and ¼ cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl until the texture resembles damp sand.
- Press the crumb mixture firmly and evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan, using the back of a measuring cup to create a compact base.
- In a separate large bowl, beat 16 oz softened cream cheese using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Gradually add ½ cup granulated sugar to the cream cheese, blending until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Incorporate 2 large eggs into the cream cheese mixture, adding one egg at a time and mixing thoroughly after each addition.
- Stir 1 tsp vanilla extract into the filling and gently fold in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the prepared graham cracker crust, spreading it carefully to create an even layer.
- Bake at 325°F for exactly 30 minutes, watching for slightly jiggly center and set edges as your doneness indicators.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to begin cooling.
- Transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours before slicing into squares.
- Cut into 9 equal bars and serve cold, garnishing with optional whipped cream or fresh berries if desired.
Notes
- Let the bars sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cutting to ensure clean, neat slices that don’t crumble.
- For a gluten-free version, swap graham cracker crumbs with almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs to make the crust compatible with dietary restrictions.
- Beat cream cheese at room temperature to prevent lumps and create a smoother, more consistent filling that blends perfectly with chocolate chips.
- Avoid overbaking by checking the cheesecake bars at 25 minutes, looking for slightly jiggly centers that will set during cooling and chilling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 433
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg