These Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars are heavenly rich and decadent. They are made with a chocolatey brownie bottom and topped with an indulgent edible chocolate chip cookie dough. The no bake cheesecake center is super smooth, creamy, and extra fluffy.
This dessert bar is perfect for any occasion and is sure to become your family’s a new favorite dessert!
If you are craving more cheesecake bars then these Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars are just what you need. Or try these classic cheesecake brownies.
Cheesecake, Minus the Hassle
Who doesn’t LOVE a good cheesecake? I know we do! But making traditional cheesecake takes a lot of time, especially oven baked cheesecakes. This is where these cheesecake bars come in. Three layers of a whole bunch of deliciousness!
There is MINIMAL baking involved, 15 minutes to be exact. NO complicated springform pans. Everything chills together in the refrigerator making this a dessert that does not need babysitting. AND best part, this dessert can be made ahead of time!
Ingredients Needed:
- All-Purpose Flour; gluten free 1:1 words great too.
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Cocoa Powder; unsweetened
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter (no need to soften to room temperature, it gets melted)
- Egg; brought to room temperature
- Vanilla Extract
- Heavy Whipping Cream; cold
- Cream Cheese; brought to room temperature
- Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
How To Make Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars
This is a quick overview of the steps. The recipe card below will have complete details.
Bake the Brownie Bottom: Melt the butter and sugar, fold in the rest of the ingredients. Bake your brownie for 15 minutes.
Freeze: Pop your baked brownie layer in the freezer to cool down while you make the filling.
Whip Up the No Bake Cheesecake Filling: Beat the ingredients together until smooth and creamy, fold in the homemade whipped cream.
Spread gently onto your chilled brownie layer.
Freeze: Pop it in the freezer until the cheesecake layer is no longer sticky. If it is sticky you will have a hard time spreading on the topping.
Make the Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Topping: Microwave the flour to kill any bacteria. Beat all the ingredients together until fluffy and fold in the semi sweet chocolate chips. Spread an even layer over the top of your cheesecake filling.
Spread over the top of your frozen no bake cheesecake filling. If the cheesecake isn’t frozen you will have a very difficult time spreading the cookie dough.
Cut the cookie bars into squares FIRST and chill. Place it in the refrigerator, covered, to chill for a minimum of 4 hours before slicing and serving.
3 Tips to Successful Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars
- Room Temperature Ingredients for a Lump Free Cheesecake: In this recipe the cream cheese, sour cream, and butter (for the cookie dough topping) must sit out and come to room temperature. Why? This helps everything mix together properly and ensures the mixture will be smooth. You don’t want a lumpy filling or topping to these cheesecake bars.
- Stiff Peaks for Light and Airy Cheesecake: Make sure you use cold heavy whipping cream or it will not whip up properly. Stiff peaks means the whipped cream mixture will hold its shape to a “peak” when you lift it from the bowl. Runny whipped cream will affect your filling.
- Chill Time: Leave yourself enough time to sufficiently chill the bars in the refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing them to speed up the process for two reasons: (1) it makes it difficult to cut the bars and (2) they are unpleasant to eat because the top and bottom layer are too hard and the filling squeezes out when you try to bite them.
Cutting Perfect Cheesecake Bars EVERY TIME
When cutting these Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars you want to keep the corners crisp and the layers in tact. So, you will want to make sure you are using a really sharp knife. When you go to cut the bars follow these steps:
- Run your knife under warm water to gently heat the blade and wipe away excess water.
- Cut the Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars.
- Wipe your knife with a paper towel.
- Repeat process until you have 12 equal pieces. Don’t forget to refrigerate them before serving!
More Brownie Recipes You Might Enjoy:
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Brownie Cookie Cheesecake Bars
EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
Brownie Bottom
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder - unsweetened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
No Bake Cheesecake Filling
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream - cold
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 12 ounces cream cheese - room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream - room temperature
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
Brownie Bottom
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Prepare an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Melt the granulated sugar and unsalted butter in a small saucepan. Allow it to come to a boil. Boil the mixture for two to three minutes and then remove from heat.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together eggs, cocoa, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add warm butter/sugar mixture to your egg mixture and keep whisking until smooth and incorporated.
- Add the baking powder and flour. Fold until incorporated.
- Pour brownie batter into the prepared 8×8 dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Place in the refrigerator to cool while you make the cheesecake filling.
No Bake Cheesecake Filling
- Whisk the cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar on high speed until soft peaks, about 4-5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl beat the cream cheese until light and there are no lumps.
- Add the sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes.
- Using a spatula, lightly fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Remove your brownie layer from the refrigerator and evenly spread the cheesecake filling on top. Place in the freezer until the cheesecake filling is firm to the touch.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Topping
- Place the flour in a heat safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds (stirring well every 15 seconds). Set aside until cooled.
- Beat the butter until light and creamy, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar, salt, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and flour. Beat on medium-low until fully combined and smooth.
- Using a spatula gently fold in the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Remove your brownie/no bake cheesecake from the freezer. Make sure it is not sticky to the touch (if it is, put it back in the freezer and set aside your cookie dough topping until it is).
- Evenly spread the cookie dough topping on top. Sprinkle with more mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Cut into 12 equal slices with a very sharp knife.
- Place in the refrigerator to firm up for a minimum of four hours.
VIDEO
RECIPE NOTES
Storing Information:
- In the refrigerator, covered, for up to 7 days.
- In the freezer, wrapped in saran wrap and in a freezer bag, for up to two months.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
These are delicious! I made them for Easter and they were a hit. However, I struggled to get them to stay in bar form. The cookie dough layer was so hard, but the cheesecake layer softer, so when I tried to cut them the cheesecake oozed around and it all kind of fell apart. The taste was amazing but would love for them to keep their form! Any advice or tips?
Hey Rachel!
I am so glad you enjoyed them. If you cut them at room temperature. If you are in a pinch cutting them from frozen works too. You could also change the layers (brownie bottom, cookie dough and then cheesecake on top. I will note it in the recipe. Thank you!
~Elizabeth
Wow and Wow! These look totally amazing!
Love love love these bars! Oh my gosh, so amazing!!
Yay! Thank you! So glad to hear!
~Elizabeth
These bars look amazing! I can’t wait to try them out! Thanks for the tip on how to slice them properly.
Awesome! So glad you found it helpful!
Enjoy
~Elizabeth
These brownie cookie cheesecake bars are sooooo good. Decadent and delicious!
YAY! So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and rate them.
~Elizabeth
Oh my goodness, the best indulgent recipe, ever. My new favorite, thanks for the tips & tricks, like whipping the cream to stiff peaks and how to cut the final bars. Comes out perfect.
Awesome! I am so glad you liked them and found the recipe helpful. I always try to include as much information as possible!
Have a great day!
~Elizabeth