Monday 2 January 2017

In The Mood For....


.... Cookie Cheesecake Bars! Happy New Year everyone! It looks like my baking mojo is back, eh? I don't know how long this will last but while the momentum is on, I shall chug along and bake.

These cookie cheesecake bars are divine, simply divine. My only complaint is that in spite of reducing the sugar content quite drastically, I still found these cheesecake bars way too sweet. But that's just me.


These cookie cheesecake bars are different from the ones I baked previously because the base is made from scratch and not digestive biscuits.

I was a bit skeptical because I assumed that the cookie dough base might not cook because it is baked together with the cheesecake filling. There are recipes where you bake the base first before pouring in the filling.


My fears were unfounded because it baked perfectly. These cheesecake bars are a treat. Perfect to bring for gatherings where you can be sure they will be a hit (and you will be very popular).

My favorite way to eat is to bring these bars out from the fridge to come to room temperature. That takes about 30 minutes to an hour, the longer it sits, the more gooey it becomes. 

Or....eat these bars while they are still warm....heaven! I did not want to share these treats but I cannot eat all of these alone (I could have put them in the freezer and eaten them over a few sessions) since they are quite rich. So it is best to share.


Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars
Recipe source : Adapted from Pinch of Yum

Ingredients :

For the cookie dough :
- 130g self-raising flour
- 110g butter, softened
- 110g creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup caster sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of chocolate chips + extra for scattering
- 1/2 cup rolled oats

For the cheese filling :
- 250g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method :
1. To make the cookie dough, cream butter, peanut butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg and continue to beat until incorporated.
3. Fold in flour and once incorporated, fold in chocolate chips and rolled oats. Set aside.
4. To make the cheese filling, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
5. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated.
6. Take half of the cookie dough and press onto the bottom of a lined 8" pan.
7. Pour the cheese filling and spread all over the cookie dough.
8. Take the remaining cookie dough and form clumps and place these on top of the cheese filling until all the cookies dough is used up.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 160C for 30 minutes or until cookie dough is dry to the touch and the cheesecake is firm.
10. Remove from oven and leave on cooling rack to cool. 
11. Either chill in the fridge or serve warm.

Note to self : Either use no-sugar added peanut butter or omit sugar totally from the cookie dough recipe.

48 comments:

  1. OMG these look and sound soooo delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, these are very good. They make keeping new year resolutions very hard. LOL!

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  2. Hi PH, wishing you a Happy New Year! Here's to more delicious food in 2017. :)

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    1. Happy New Year, Yen! Yes, cheers to more eating :D

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  3. I love your vase!!! I've this soft spot for blue & whites!

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  4. Wah! Bersemangat nak sambut CNY ye PH! Moga makin tambah banyak koleksi kuih dalam balang untuk para tetamu :)

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    1. Belum lagi, Amie. Belum ada semangat nak buat kueh raya. hah..hah..

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  5. Hi Phong Hong, Happy New Year to you too ! These rich but yummy Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars will definitely be a hit to my big kids ... got everything they love.

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    1. Happy New Year, Karen! Yes, your big kids will love these. So when are you baking? LOL!

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  6. STP loves your vase, i loves your Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars... hehe...

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  7. Happy New Year Phoon Hong! I would definitely like to have 2 pieces of these cheesecake bars. Looks so sinfully yummy! :D

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    1. Happy New Year, Ann! I had two slices in one go. hah..hah..

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  8. Wow! What a craving. But I would not mind a bite or two too. Hehe

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    1. hee..hee..one bite or two is not enough. LOL!

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  9. Hi Phong Hong, awesome cheesy choc chips bars. How I wish I can grab one from here. Happy New Year to you.

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    1. Happy New Year, Kimmy! I would be glad to share some with you :)

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  10. you might have discovered my weakness ... i LOVE cookie dough, i LOVE chocolate chips, and i LOVE cream cheese - combine the three, and it's a trifecta of temptations! :D

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    1. Ah, then these cookie cheesecakes are the perfect gift for you :)

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  11. Hola! Your cookie cheesecake bars looked like hallmark cookies from Harrods! They are so neat and lovely to bite. It is so coincidence that cookie baking mojo is back! My binge eating mojo is back too! Bingo!

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    1. Thank you for the generous compliments :) My eating mojo is always on. LOL!

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  12. I may not be into cheesecake bars but I can't help admire how professionally and perfectly baked they look :) I see that 2016 has been your most productive year (writing the most no. of posts)...keep it up in 2017! ;)

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    1. Thank you, Kris :) Well, I am considering slowing down in 2017, maybe 3 posts a week. Posting everyday is quite a bit of work. Or I will post randomly or whatever. We'll see...

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  13. happy new year! what brand of cream cheese did you use? i think i will like this cookie but i suspect i will find them too sweet like you did.

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    1. Happy New Year, Mun! I used Tatura though I prefer Philadelphia.

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  14. Oh my!

    Sedap ni.

    Happy New Year, PH!

    Back to work already?

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    1. Happy New Year, Lina! Yup, back to work hu..hu...hu..

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  15. Good to know that your baking mojo is back. Ready to bake CNY cookies? Your cheesecake bars looks good!

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    Replies
    1. Cookies? No lah, no mood for that and no energy. LOL!

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  16. these look and sound soooo delicious!

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  17. Hi PH! Happy New Year to you... phew.. I am finally back on the pc at last... and please do share one piece with me.. One piece will do! hahahaa.. But sharing these gooey gooey cookies online is also fine with me, let my imagination run wild.. hahaha...

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    1. Happy New Year, Claire! Back on the pc and then I am sure you will be back on the road or jet setting somewhere again hee..hee...

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  18. If someone is selling these lovelies, I would definitely buy them for CNY!

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    1. You would, eh? Let's see if anyone is selling. hee..hee...

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  19. Nampak sedap tu PH..
    Tentu kek ni salah satu k3k untk tahun baru china.

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    1. Thanks, Yati. Untuk raya ni, PH belum prepare apa2 lagi. Nak buat kueh raya pun takde mood...

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  20. Oh that was a lovely bake from you.

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  21. Hmm.... this is a rather dangerous stuff because I will lazy to cut and place the normal cheesesake on a proper plate then eat with fork but this... I can simply take it out from fridge and eat it directly with hand and no plate or fork are involved!

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  22. I loves cookies. But i tak suka bakes cookies, its takes time, right? Hehe, ni cakap org malas, tapi suka makan.

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    1. Makan is very easy, kan? Depends on my mood jugak. When malas, no baking. hah..hah..

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