Brownie Bottom Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Taste: The brownie layer has an intense chocolate/cocoa flavor, the cheesecake is tangy yet sweet, and the cookie dough layer tastes like brown sugar chocolate chip cookies!

TEXTURE: Incredible. Rich, fudgy, thick, chewy, luscious, gooey, crunchy, everything you could ever want.

EASE: I will admit, this recipe requires a lot of steps and dirties a lot of dishes, though there are no difficult techniques. SO worth it, promise!

APPEARANCE: Who could pass up one of these babies?

PROS: Outrageously decadent dessert.

CONS: Not an everyday indulgence.

WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN? Absolutely.

Ingredients

For the brownies
1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1 cup (85 grams) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (62 grams) all-purpose flour

For the cookie dough

4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup (67 grams) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup (95 grams) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (80 grams) miniature semisweet chocolate chips

For the cheesecake filling

2 (8 ounce, 227 gram) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Directions

For the brownies:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil, leaving an overhang.

In a large bowl combine the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir until well combined, mixture will be thick. Let cool if the butter is still hot. Stir in the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time, stirring very well after each addition. Stir until the batter is very well blended. Add the flour and stir again until very well blended. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until just starting to set but not fully cooked. Let cool to room temperature then place in the fridge to chill until ready to use while you make the other layers. Maintain 325°F oven temperature if baking cheesecake layer immediately.

For the cookie dough:

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla, and milk until smooth, about 2 minutes. On low speed gradually add the flour and beat until combined. Mix in the chocolate chips. Place the dough between two sheets of parchment and roll into an 8-inch square. Refrigerate while you prepare the cheesecake.

For the cheesecake:

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and sugar until well combined and smooth. Beat in the eggs, flour, and salt just until incorporated. Pour the cheesecake batter over the brownie. Place the cookie dough sheet over the cheesecake batter.

Bake at 325°F for about 50 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set and the cookie dough is barely golden but dry. Cool to room temperature before refrigerating for at least 2 hours to chill. Cut into 12 bars before serving. Bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

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