One book. Two posts. I’ve baked you not one but two absolutely divine bars from Beth Lipton‘s You Made That Dessert. Her book has a scrumptious collection of recipes and great baking tips and tricks. Beth has very generously given permission to reprint both her recipes.
Not one to leave the best for last, I’m obviously going to start with cookies and cream cheesecake bars. You know I absolutely love cheesecake. There are few joys greater than a well baked cheesecake. A wonderful Oreo crust and a nice, thick layer of creamy smooth cheesecake with generous chunks of oreo cookies spread over.
Oreo and butter. Mmmm… I knew the recipe was a keeper but the X factor of the double dose of Oreo cookies makes this dessert perfect and irresistible. The recipe comes together quickly and easily. Well, there is one tough part to get through: waiting for it to chill in the fridge. The cheesecake filling is not too sweet and that’s another aspect of the recipe I like. The bars can be cut in any size you like. I added a light drizzle of dark chocolate for dramatic effect.
- 1 (1 pound) package Oreo cookies
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¾ cup (5.25oz) granulated white sugar
- ¾ cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides (I spray mine with cooking spray).
- Place 28 Oreos in a food processor and process until finely ground. Pour into a large bowl, add the melted butter, and stir with a flexible spatula until all crumbs are moistened. Place the cookie-crumb mixture in the lined pan and, using your fingers, press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom. Bake 10 minutes, then remove to a wire cooling rack (leave the oven on) while you make the filling. Snap the remaining Oreos in half, put them in the food processor, and turn on and off quickly a few times, just until the cookies are roughly chopped.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well blended, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a flexible spatula and beat again until uniform. Beat in sour cream, vanilla and salt. Scrape down the bowl and mix again. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. After beating in the last egg, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat one more time, to make sure the mixture is fully combined. Stir in chopped Oreos with the same spatula.
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the baked cookie crust, smooth the top with the spatula, and bake for 40 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but still slightly wobbly in the center when you gently shake the pan. Remove the pan to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. When cool, cover it with foil and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours. (I chill mine overnight)
- To cut, use the foil overhang to lift the cheesecake out of the pan and place on a large cutting board. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the cheesecake into bars, rinsing off the knife with hot water and wiping it dry between each cut. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
The batter for the second bar has just been whipped and with a promise of a lovely dessert, it has just been dashed into the oven. Come back tomorrow and I will keep it ready just in time for your morning coffee.
Happy Baking!
Yummy!
Sometimes I just want to cry when you post – it looks so incredibly delicious, I’d eat it all in a day (seriously) if I made it, and that just doesn’t work. Looks amazing! I bet these are absolutely fantastic.
Sensationally good! Yummy!
Gorgeous and irresistible!!! YUM!
anu, this just looks decadent. your hubby must love eating all of your baked goods!!
Holy yum! I love the flavors.. Well, I absolutely LOVE cheesecakes!!! :D
Omg these look so yummy. I love cookies and cream stuff, in cheesecake form it is heaven.
Wow, these look really really GOOD. cool design on the plate too!
Yum, yum, yum! These look so yummy, and I love how easy they are to make! Hip, hip hooray for cheesecake bars!!!
These look fantastic! I was just thinking, I want to make these, and add Greek yogurt maybe;-) Love them:-) Hugs, Terra
Wow!! I. Must. Make. This!!!! Sounds delish!!
Oh my! The photos themselves are wonderful and the bars A++++!
This is definitely a thumbs up- oreos and cheesecake with a chocolate drizzle! I would not change a thing about them. I doubt if they would last an hour here- not a square to spare-yum!
I want one now!! YUMMMMMMMMMMM
Oh my GOSHHHHHH THESE LOOK AMAZING!!
These look like the sophisticated version of the cheesecake brownies I so adored when I was a teenager. I’m going to try them!
What a delicious looking recipe. i love the two tone.
I love cheesecake. These look so decadent. I want one now!
Whenever I visit your site, I look around in a tizzy at all the gorgeous and salivary gland inducing treats, and think ‘Where do I go first??’. These zebraa cheesecake bars look incredible. I used to make full zebra cheesecakes, which involved pouring the two batters into the pan from high up. Kind of fun..this makes me want to do it again, after I try them in bar form..your bar form!
Cookies and Cream and cheesecake are two of my most favorite things ever!!
I am not a huge fan of Cheesecake, but WOW!! I would eat a piece or 2 of this in a heartbeat!
Wow, these look insanely delicious! Cookies and Cream with cheesecake all in a bar, YUMM! I’m so craving some right now! This is a great recipe, especially for the up coming holidays when you need a little treat for guests…or just yourself :)
Wow – those look absolutely AMAZING! What a great recipe and I’m so excited that you got permission to re-print! Thank you!
Bars to die for :D
Yum yum yum
Cheesecake with oreo base! Mmm..waiting for that slice to pop out :)
The cheesecake bars look divine! Can never go wrong with chocolate.
Holla! These are amazing! I love cheesecake and I adore oreos…this is a marriage that will last MUCH longer than the Kim K’s. Buzzed!
Hello, yumminess!
those look absolutely scrumptious! love the chocolate drizzle :)
Oh man, that is the prettiest picture ever! Oreos and cheesecake, I’m so drooling over this!
Wow! I am so drooling over those gorgeous photos!
Scrumptious!
OMG this looks insanely delicious!! Heehee girlie, I would probably have to non stop excercise if I were you neighbor. lol
Those bars look so rich and delicious!
“Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the cheesecake into bars, rinsing off the knife with hot water and wiping it dry between each cut.” That is a nice tip!:-) Cheesecake bars look yummy,I am sure they tasted yummy too!
My must make recipe list is getting longer each day. Also, the time spent working out is going to get longer each day. These look fantastic!
Oh my goodness. I’m not the biggest fan of cheesecake but this looks freakin fantastic!! Yum!!
Cookies and cream cheesecake bars…it doesn’t get any better than that!!!! Yum!!!
Wow! This looks so good. Mouthwatering!
That is one perfect yummy dessert!
Yummayyyy!!! This is to die for!
Gorgeous dessert and lovely pictures!! This is my kind of sweet treat. :)
This looks great! Thanks so much for the idea…and the Sugar Rush!
I was looking around your blog and I discovered that I am not able to find something that I don’t like… Thank you so much for all those delicious recipes you are sharing with us!!
Easy and so delicious!