So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

By: Author Julie Menghini

Posted on - Last updated:

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Cheesecake Cookie Bars combine the best of two desserts. A smooth and creamy layer of cheesecake sits between a soft cookie crust and a delicious cookie crumble.

This recipe was originally posted in 2017 and has been updated to improve reader experience.

So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (1)

When you look at a layered dessert, do you think of all of the time, dirty dishes and consuming steps? This Cheesecake cookie bar recipe is quick and easy to make.

These cheesecake bars taste like a fancy cheesecake without all of the fuss.

We’ve found a few of our recipes in the recipe box my 94-year-old mother-in-law gave us a few years ago including this simply delicious Cheesecake Cookie Bar recipe.

The thing that intrigued us about this recipe is that a lot of cheesecake bars look more like a cookie bar.

This Cheesecake Cookie Bar looks like actual an actual square of cheesecake in my humble opinion. That makes them a little fancier than a cookie bar right?

Love it? Pin it!

Why we like these Cheesecake Cookie Bars

  • Unlike making an actual cheesecake, these cheesecake bars don’t require a water bath!
  • There’s no peering into the oven waiting for them to take on the perfect jiggle to indicate they’re done…and,
  • There’s no dreading the infamous crack in the surface!
  • This recipe makes a full 9×13 pan!

Ingredients you will need

  • Brown Sugar
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Walnuts
  • Cream Cheese
  • White Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Lemon juice
  • Vanilla Extract

How to make this recipe for Cheesecake Cookie Bars

There are literally two steps for making this recipe. You’ve got the cookie ingredients and you have the cheesecake filling. Let us tell you how we did it.

So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (3)
  1. Make the cookie layer by beating the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the walnuts and flour to the butter mixture and blend together until crumbly.
  2. Reserve two cups and press the remaining cookie layer in the bottom of a 9×13 pan and bake. Remove the cookie crust from the oven and allow it to cool while you mix up the cheesecake filling layer.
  3. To make the cheesecake filling, combine the cream cheese and sugar together and mix until smooth. Add the egg, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
  4. Assemble the cookie bars by smoothing the cheesecake filling over the top of the baked and cooled crust with the filling. Sprinkle the reserved cookie crumble over the filling and bake.
  5. Chill. This dessert is meant to be eaten cold The filling will set making slicing easier. It’s great to make it ahead of time and cut it right before serving.
So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (4)

Helpful tips and variations

  • Using room temperature ingredients is key. If your butter or cream cheese is cold, it will not beat smoothly with the other ingredients.
  • We used walnuts in our cookie layer. You could substitute with pecans for a delicious variation.
  • Make sure the cookie layer is cool before topping it with the filling. If it’s too warm, it can liquify the filling. You can even make the cookie layer earlier in the day and finish it later.
  • Allow the bars to cool on a cooling rack and then refrigerate. These bars cut so much easier if they’re chilled.
  • To cut these bars, use a sharp-pointed knife. Dip the knife in very hot water, dry it off and make your cut. Clean the knife and repeat.
So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (5)

Most of the time we want something that tastes like a fussy dessert that isn’t time-consuming like these No-Fuss Cheesecake Cookie Bars.

We don’t mind making time-consuming recipes when we have the time or in the mood but most of the time we want to make something that only tastes like it was fussy and time-consuming.

This recipe makes a full 9×13 pan. That’s a great size for us to take to family gatherings and the holidays.

Some say this size of the pan makes 24 servings.

If you have the knife, you can pick the size of your cookie bar!

So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (6)

If you like this Cheesecake Cookie bar recipe, here are a few more you may enjoy

  • Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars
  • Derby Pie Brownies
  • No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
  • White Chocolate Cheesecake
  • Cappuccino Cheesecake Bars

Kitchen Gadgets

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to mydisclosure pagefor more information about these affiliate programs.

This recipe doesn’t require a lot of fancy equipment to put it together.

We still use this simple baking dish for our bar desserts and the workhorse in my kitchen is my mixer. Smoothing out the creamy cheesecake layer is a breeze with my favorite spatulas too.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

These Cheesecake Cookie Bars are So Good. They’re quick and easy to make and taste like a fancy cheesecake without all of the fuss.

4.50 from 48 votes

Print Recipe Collect Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Cookie, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword: Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Servings: 12 pieces

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup butter salted
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 16 oz cream cheese 2-8oz pkgs
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F.

  • Cream butter with brown sugar in a small mixing bowl. Add walnuts and flour; mix to make a crumb mixture. Reserve 2 cups for topping. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Let the crust cool while you prepare the filling.

  • Blendsugar with cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add egg, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat well. Spread over baked and cooled crust.

  • Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over cream cheese layer. Bake for 25 minutes.

  • Chill in the refrigerator before cutting. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Notes

Make sure the crust is cooled before adding the cream cheese filling. Otherwise, your filling with liquify.

This dessert is meant to be eaten chilled. It’s perfect to make ahead and cut right before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 7gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 96mgSodium: 228mgPotassium: 153mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 870IUVitamin C: 1.1mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 1.6mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Drum roll…our most popular recipes!

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Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!

So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (8)
So Good Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What should cheesecake mixture look like? ›

You need to check your mixture often, to make sure it won't over mix. If a mixture is under whisked, it tends to be thicker, and looks like softly whipped cream – it'll have a smooth texture, and look a bit like meringue almost – if it is under whisked, it may be slightly soft set, but this is better than over whisked.

What is the consistency of baked cheesecake? ›

Personally, I'll take a baked cheesecake over the no-bake, fridge-set variety every time. It sets to a dense, velvety smooth consistency, as opposed to the lighter, jelly-like texture of a fridge-set cheesecake. Plus, you don't have to mess around with sheets of gelatine, a massive bonus, in my opinion.

What happens if you overmix cheesecake batter? ›

Avoid Overmixing: Unlike other cakes, where beating air into the batter is key, overmixed cheesecake can rise, fall and then crack from that excess air. Keeping ingredients (cheese, eggs, liquids and flavorings) at room temperature can help.

What happens if you overbeat cheesecake batter? ›

When making your filling, overmixing can lead to incorporating too much air into the batter. Once baked, the air bubbles will burst, and the cheesecake will fall and crack. THE FIX: The number one reason why you'd overbeat your batter is because you're having dificulty incorporating cold ingredients.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

Avoid Overcooking

DON'T overbake. Overbaking a cheesecake can cause cracks on the surface. The center of the cheesecake should still be a little wobbly, the filling still pale, and the outer ring slightly puffy and firm. It will continue to cook as it cools and maintains that smooth and rich texture.

Is sour cream or heavy cream better for cheesecake? ›

The addition of cream gives a velvety, smooth texture, but too much of it and you begin to mask the cream cheese flavor. Sour cream supports the underlying tang of the cream cheese, but, if overdone, it takes over as the dominant flavor. You need a little of each -- cream for texture and sour cream for flavor.

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

Is it better to overbake or underbake cheesecake? ›

Baking temperature determines the texture

Cheesecake is a custard, and custards can overcook easily. Overbaked cheesecake will crack and the texture will be dry and gritty.

What is the best temperature to bake a cheesecake? ›

Bake at 325°F for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the top looks slightly dry, especially at the edges. If the middle is slightly wobbly like jello, that's fine. The internal temperature should read 150°F with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center.

How do you know when a cheesecake is baked enough? ›

touch the top of the cheesecake in the center. If the surface is firm, but has a slight give, it's done.

Is cheesecake mix supposed to be lumpy? ›

For a smooth batter—and therefore a smoother-textured cheesecake— the initial temperature of the ingredients is important. Cold cream cheese is firm and will create a lumpy batter. If the batter is lumpy, the finished cheesecake will not be smooth, but gritty.

How smooth should cheesecake batter be? ›

A simple cheesecake batter recipe typically consists of cream cheese, sour-cream, and eggs. Mix it until it's a semi-liquid, super-smooth batter, which can be drizzled onto the graham cracker's base. The cheesecake is slowly baked in the oven. Use a hot water bath to generate moisture and steam.

Is it normal for cheesecake batter to be runny? ›

The fat content helps the cheesecake set and creates its signature creamy texture. If you've ever made cheesecake that was runny, it's very likely that low-fat ingredients are to blame.

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