These Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars combine the best of both dessert worlds into one, scrumptious bite. Make them for a crowd and I promise you’ll be everyones BFF.
It’s so crazy how much Summer changes for you as you grow up. Christian is a month away from graduating with his Master’s, so this is really his last “Summer break” before the “real world”. By now I’ve gotten used to it, but I remember looking forward to Summer break and thinking about all of the things I was going to do over Summer, usually including a family vacation, sports camps (when I was high school and younger), and lots of beach days.
Thinking about Summer, and how as a child you are given two months of freedom, got me thinking about what I would do with those two months if I were given a “Summer break” today, as a 24 year-old with full-time work and limited vacation *womp womp*.
Well, let me tell you… I’ve got a “bucket list” of sorts containing things I would love to do one day. If I had at least a Summer break (some of them would require more time), I would totally check these off my list…
Culinary School in Italy
I am fully aware that culinary school is like college in that it takes years to accomplish, but hey now, I’ve done my research! I’ve found culinary schools in Italy that allow you to focus on certain areas of culinary education. This is #1 on my list because holy hell I want to do this so bad. I’ve seen barista schools, pastry schools, you name it… PLEASE CAN I? I would clearly have to live in Italy for an extended period, which is a-okay with me!
Cake Decorating Class
This is similar to culinary school, I guess, but it’s more of a local thing. As in, I’m pretty sure my local Michael’s offers cake decorating classes. I would love to take something like a 4-6 week cake decorating class because it’s one of the things I wish I was good at. If I were, I would have shared a million cake recipes on here by now! Because I’m secretly obsessed with cake decorating, I love following awesome food bloggers that are cake experts themselves. If you love cake like me, you’d love Liv for Cake (@liveforcake on Instagram)!
USA Road Trip
Something on my bucket list, in general, is taking a road trip around the U.S with Christian. How fun would that be?! I’ve been to many states and cities, but there is SO MUCH I still haven’t seen and experienced. We live in a wonderful country, why not explore it?! I’m thinking start in Florida, end in California, and fly back. Holy crap that’s a long trip – I’d have to get a mi-fi to blog from the car. 😉
Food Photography Workshop
I would love, love, love to attend one of Pinch of Yum’s food photography workshops! At this point, I don’t really have the money, but it’s something that is certainly on my radar that I hope to attend one day! Totally a “Summer break” thing. I’d also like to host my own one day, whenever I get better at my craft 
– would you join me?!
Make Every Recipe in Julia Child’s Cookbook
If I didn’t have a million things going on, I would LOVE to challenge myself to doing this. I often feel like I’m too busy making my own recipes and doing all of the work that comes along with food blogging/cooking that I can’t enjoy leisurely making other peoples recipes. One day, people, one day I will do this!! And document my journey like Julie & Julia!
[Tweet “What’s on your “Summer break” bucket list?”]
And the last thing on my bucket list?…
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars!
Duh.
And these should be on yours, too. They’re…
Sweet
Chewy
Tangy
Soft
Chocolatey
[Tweet “Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars”]
- [b]Crust[/b]:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- [b]Cheesecake[/b]
- 8 oz low fat cream cheese
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- [b]Cookie[/b]:
- 1/3 cup room temperature coconut oil
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking dish.
- Add graham cracker crumbs and coconut oil to a large bowl and stir together until well-combined. Add to baking dish and spread evenly, pressing down with your hands to form the crust.
- Bake crust for 6 minutes. Remove, and set aside.
- In a stand mixer or large bowl with electric mixer, add cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix until creamy and well-combined.
- Pour cheesecake mixture onto graham cracker crust and spread evenly with a rubber spatula (see photos).
- Wash bowl (or use a different one) and begin making cookie mixture. Add in coconut oil, brown sugar, egg white and vanilla extract. Beat on low until well-combined.
- Slowly add in flour while mixing. Beat slowly until well-combined.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in chocolate chips.
- Using your hands, place dough evenly across cheesecake mixture. It’s okay to have cheesecake peeking through.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out of the center clean.
- Cut into 12 squares and enjoy!
Join the conversation:
What’s on your bucket list?
What would you do if you had 2 months of freedom starting tomorrow?
Did you like this recipe? Pin it for later!
Ahhhh so exciting for Christian! That’s a killer bucket list! I would love to be able to cook my way through Julia Child’s cookbook too. My cousins and I tried it once and we barely got through 3 recipes haha! For me, I just want to be able to travel more and soak up a local culture. Since I don’t have the funds to do that now, these beautiful-looking cheesecake bars will have to do. 😉
I want to travel so bad. I just got back from Miami for the weekend on Monday, which is the most traveling I’ve done in a while lol and I don’t even consider that traveling because I go there all the time to see family! But I’ll be going to Nantucket this month – woohoo! Once you have the funds to travel, all of the waiting will be well worth it!!
xo
Cake decorating classes are so fun! My mom and I took a couple when I was in high school and it was really cool to learn the art of cake decorating and to be able to practice everything right as you learn it… plus you get to eat a ton of cake too so that’s even more fun 😉 If I had a summer break, which I hope to as a teacher, I would spend it travelling across the US.
Gah so jealous!! How fun, mother daughter, too! I’d love to do that with my mom. Ah yes – my sister is a teacher and loves her Summer breaks haha but she says if she didn’t have them she’d go crazy LOL #kids
We have a family friend who just spent two weeks in Italy at a cooking school. It sounded beyond amazing. You have time, you’ll get back over there
I want to do a road-trip too but it takes so long to just get out of the state of FL that it’s a deterrent haha.
I know seriously, you have to drive across half the state just to get out of the state haha c’mon Florida do less.
I love these bucket list items! I totally think you can do all of them at some point. The cross country trip seems so fun especially when you have great company and good tunes
Yess I just want to car jam all over the country!!
YUM these look so amazing! There are so many things on my bucket list (I even have a 30 by 30 list) and so many places to visit. My last summer break before starting my full time job I traveled around Europe for 6 weeks so if I had 2 months off that’s what I would do again!
OMG that is my dreaammmm. I need 6 weeks of freedom WAA haha. I went to Italy before I started my first job and that was amazing because it’s that awesome free feeling knowing you have a job lined up but right now you don’t have a job to worry about lol the best.
I would love to go on a road trip across american but the only thing is that I get car sick real easy which wouldn’t be good haha. Anyways these bars are basically like the two best things ever combined in one, delicious!
Oh no!! Have you ever tried those motion sickness bracelet things? I used to get motion sickness when I was younger – no fun!! Thanks Rachel!
I would work on writing/blogging as much as possible to bring me one step closer to quitting my day job 😉 I’d love to do USA road trip, too – I hardly ever get west of Chicago. Also CANNOT WAIT to make these bars…cheesecake = life.
Ha – I feel ya. I would, too. I’d totally bring a mi-fi on my road trip and be typing away ;D
these cheesecake bars look amazing. i’ve actually never made cheesecake bars before and i totally need too! love the photos – so delicious. Xx
you must try!! so yummy. Thanks Thalia <3
WOAH I’m super excited for Christian, and I think you and him should go on a road trip. It would really be worth the time exploring and finding gems all over the U.S. We did a West Coast Road Trip last year, and it was amazing! I did seriously think about culinary school, but I just wasn’t sure that that was the thing I wanted to do forever, although I really love cooking and baking so much.
You know what one of the most fun parts about blogging now? It’s finding bloggers that I’ve been able to connect with on a more personal basis, because I’ve actually been reminded that there are actually hard working, kind women and guys that are working on these recipes. I didn’t really appreciate food bloggers until this year, and that was because of the BGB Community and watching you and Georgie and others share their journeys.
And these cheesecake bars? Wow, I spent all day baking, and now I want to bake more. I gave away a lot of baking to my neighbors, which was providential, so maybe I can make these for my fam! <3
Emily you always make my day with your comments! So sweet! We are so lucky to have you in our community.
And I am SUPER blessed to be in this community too.
Welp, these were added to my summer bucket list slash weekend plans within one click. Culinary school in Italy would seriously be a DREAM. But in the meantime, I’m totally down to do a cake baking class with you! My baking skills in general are below sub-par and I would love to know how to make ish look fancy. Xo
Haha! If you make them I wanna see!! OMG let’s do it. How fun?!
These look amazinggg!! Seriously- chocolate, cookies, and cheesecake in one bar?! Talk about heavenly. If I had two months of freedom, I would definitely travel! First I would go to Colorado and do all the hiking, exploring of new hippie juice bars and cafes, paddleboarding, etc. Then I would go to London or Australia! I love to travel and want to do more of it when I’m older (and not a broke college student lol)
I absolutely love traveling, too. Can’t wait until I have the $ to do it more! I have family in Colorado, such a beautiful place.
I’m so with you on culinary school. I think this semester I’m gonna try out one of the cooking community classes nearby while I still have time and freedom!
Also I really wanna make all of julia child’s recipes too. I got given her cookbook for my birthday last year and it has been my dream ever since.
Have you seen Julie & Julia? Totally my inspiration to do that!!
I’d say almost all of those things you’ve mentioned are on my bucket list too! I’ve been wanting to attend a POY workshop as well but funds are tight. And how amazing would it be to go to culinary school in Italy!!! I’m loving those cheesecake bars, I’ll definitely have to make them soon.
Yes I wish I had the money to go to one of the POY workshops!! I’m sure they are amazing. Thanks so much Quin!! <3
I’d love to take a food photography class!! Hm….sensing a BGB Community food photog weekend retreat…?!?!?! These cheesecake bars remind me of the boxed brownie cheesecake bars my aunt made when I was younger, except these are the more delicious adult version
Hi,
Why is it low fat cream cheese?
I just tried making this and I was afraid it was going to complete liquid and it did – not spreadable at all!
Hi Jess. I use low fat because I have digestive issues that restrict me from eating full fat foods. As you can see, I used low fat and it came out great. Did you follow the recipe exactly or sub anything?