Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookie Bars

By srumbel

Homemade chocolate cookie bars with a creamy pumpkin cheesecake baked in the center makes these a rich and delicious dessert for fall.
from insidebrucrewlife.com

Ingredients

• For the Chocolate Cookie Bars
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
• For the Pumpkin Cheesecake
• 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• For the Topping
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Details

Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

Beat the butter, shortening, and sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
Sift together the salt, baking soda, flour, and cocoa powder. Slowly beat into the butter mixture.
Press half the dough into a greased 9x13 baking dish. You can spray your hands with non stick spray to keep it from sticking. Set aside the other half.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add the egg, pumpkin, and spice until thoroughly mixed. Spread over the cookie dough in the pan.
Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the top of the cheesecake. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack for 1-2 hours. Refrigerate until completely cooled and set.
Bring the whipping cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and creamy. Spread over the top of the cooled cookie bars and let it set. Cut into 24 squares. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container in the refrigerator.