Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Bars
Ingredients
- CAKE LAYER:
- 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- CHOCOLATE GANACHE LAYER:
- 8 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
- CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
- 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350º F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- To make the cake layer: combine brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl, and stir until smooth.
- In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, then gradually mix into wet ingredients until just combined. Don’t over mix.
- Pour mixture into greased baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
- While the cake layer cooks and cools, start on chocolate ganache layer and place chocolate in a medium, heatproof bowl.
- Place cream in small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer, then pour over chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes, or until chocolate has softened.
- Add butter and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly, just until it thickens and can still be poured.
- For the cream cheese layer: beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl or mixer on medium speed, just until smooth.
- Drizzle half of the ganache over cooled cake layer and pour cream cheese mixture on top, carefully spreading it out into an even layer.
- Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cheesecake layer is set, then remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes.
- Drizzle remaining ganache over the top and place in refrigerator to chill before slicing into bars and serving.
