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Today is a super special day!!!!
Surprise! It’s Mandy’s Baby Shower Day! Mandy, from Mandy’s Recipe Box is having a baby next month. And a bunch of us are celebrating her today with a baby shower!
It’s not a party without some sort of dessert, and as you’ll see from the list of ladies throwing this shower, that there is no shortage of that!
Of course, I brought something with a crust. I’m me, right?
I had been thinking of doing a peanut butter cookie crusted cheesecake bar for awhile. Then, last week, Averie made flour-less peanut butter cookies and I remembered how much I love those easy peanut butter cookies. I used to make them so much, and then I had to stop because people were starting to think I was pregnant, even though I wasn’t, because my 5 month old food baby was full of easy peanut butter cookies.
Anyway.
I made an easy peanut butter cookie base, in which I took Averie’s lead and used brown sugar (well, half brown and half white). I love brown sugar in cookies, it makes them soft and wonderful. It’s hard to tell with these bars what it does, because, well, they’re covered with cheesecake. And chocolate chips. And Reese’s Pieces.
Really, these cheesecake bars are a pregnant woman’s dream. They’re any woman’s dream. Soft and crunchy all at the same time, and full of fabulous peanut butter flavor. The easy peanut butter cookie recipe is SO rich in peanut butter flavor because it’s not interrupted with flour and all that other stuff. Mixed with the Reese’s, these are over-the-top peanut buttery.
They’re perfect for any party. Or a Tuesday night. {Whatever, I’m not picky.}
So, happy baby shower day Mandy! I’m so happy for you and your family. Enjoy your special day today!
Peanut Butter Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 + 1/4 cup granulated sugar , divided
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 eggs , divided
- 1/4 cup sour cream , room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces (or other candy)
Instructions
- Line a 9×9” baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and 1 egg in a large bowl with a spoon. The dough should come together easily. Press into the bottom of your prepared pan. (Spray your hands with cooking spray to avoid it sticking!)
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over peanut butter layer.
- Beat cream cheese, sour cream, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Make sure all your ingredients are room temperature. Beat on high with a hand mixer, or use an electric mixer to get all the lumps out (or as many as possible). It’s easier if everything is soft to start with!
- Pour cheesecake mixture on top of chocolate chips and spread to coat evenly. Sprinkle with Reese’s Pieces or other desired candy. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top just begins to brown. The center will still wiggle a little. Cool at least one hour at room temperature and then refrigerate until completely set, 4 hours or overnight. Slice into bars and serve.
Recipe Nutrition
Click here to see more PEANUT BUTTER recipes!
Check out all the other baby shower goodies for Mandy:
Holly – Life as a Lofthouse – Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Aimee – Shugary Sweets – Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Ashton – Something Swanky – Homemade Pancake Mix
Stephanie – Macaroni and Cheesecake – Slush Punch
Nikki – Chef in Training – Chocolate Covered Strawberry Muddy Buddies
Hayley – The Domestic Rebel – Cake Batter Oreo Stuffed Funfetti Cookies
Stephanie – Back for Seconds – Frosted Cakey Sugar Cookies
Brandi – The Country Cook – Lemon Pudding Cake
Becca – Crumbs and Chaos – Lemon Pudding
Jocelyn – Inside BruCrew Life – Strawberry Shortcake Fudge
Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Bars
Peanut Butter Nutella Nutter Butter Pie
Peanut Butter from friends:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars by Buns In My Oven
Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars by Michelle’s Tasty Creations
Fluffernutter Blondies by Something Swanky
This post may be linked to: Chef in Training, Lil’ Luna, Buns In My Oven, Chic-and-Crafty, I’m Lovin’ it Fridays, Strut your Stuff Saturday, Weekend Wrap Up Party, Sundae Scoop Link Party, and all of these too!
Thanks for the shoutout about my PB cookies and loving this post. PB, cream cheese, and little Reese’s Pieces…some of my faves right there! And too funny what you said about your 5 mo old food baby 🙂
Unfortunately, it’s still true, lol. 🙂 Thanks Averie!
Oh my goodness. I want!
🙂
Oh my goodness gracious! More people should have babies because I absolutely adore these virtual showers 🙂 hehe
Your cheesecake bars look incredible!
Thanks Sarah!
This is such a fun surprise!! I love it and I love you gals for making this such an amazing day! I love these bars and absolutely need them. Like, now. Thanks, Dorothy!
I wish we could have all been together for the shower! 🙂
I looooooooooooove peanut butter. Like I can go through a whole jar of Jiff without actually having used the peanut butter on anything besides a spoon. I actually have to be really careful how often I buy it. *Especially* when I’m pregnant!!
That’s how my husband is. In fact, I made him go buy me a new jar for these because I went to the cabinet and there wasn’t enough left!
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