It finally happened. Here in DC, we broke a record. Apparently, it hasn’t been this cold in over 100 years.
Why don’t I feel good about breaking that record?
Maybe because if I’m going to be a witness to record-breaking, I’d rather there be something more fun involved, like cheesecake eating. Has anyone ever broken a cheesecake-eating record? I’m sure. I’d like to be told about it, but please don’t send me any videos.
The upside of winter is that, like horrible phases your kids go through, it’s temporary. My daughter is going through this thing where she falls asleep in the car on the way home from school every day. Then she wakes up at home, starts screaming, makes me hold her and doesn’t calm down for an hour. It’s super fun.
But see, I’m a seasoned mom now, and I know that everything ends. And that’s both a blessing and a curse, because while her afternoon screeches will come to an end, so will her adorable baby cheeks. I mean, she’s almost three. They can’t stay around forever.
And neither can these cheesecake bars. I believe they disappeared in record time. And how could they not? They’re chock full of Tagalongs!
These bars begin with my peanut butter graham cracker crust, which is very simple. You just melt peanut butter chips along with the butter, and there you go. The crust is topped with a basic cheesecake batter which becomes beyond fun with the addition of chopped Tagalongs, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter-filled chocolate chips.
While I love using Girl Scout cookies for baking, I tend to use Tagalongs the most. After all, I’m a bona fide, die-hard peanut butter girl. So don’t be shocked if you see at least one more Tagalong recipe on here in the near future. But I’ll try to give Samoas some mo’ (get it?) love soon!
Cheesecake bars are always addictive, but these are above par, believe me. If you want to ensure that people will eat what you bake, this is it. In life, everything is temporary. It’s up to us to savor the good and realize that the bad is, well, a learning experience. How’s that for positivity on a Monday?
Ingredients
Crust
1/3 cup peanut butter chips
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
Cheesecake
8 oz. cream cheese (I used light), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light sour cream
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 Tagalongs, chopped
1/3 cup peanut butter chips
1/3 cup peanut butter-filled chips (Nestle brand)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8 x 8 pan with foil, leaving enough to hang over the sides. Spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the peanut butter chips and butter for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Add the brown sugar and graham cracker crumbs, stirring until moistened.
- Press the crumbs tightly and evenly into the prepared pan with a spatula. Bake the crust for 15 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, prepare the cheesecake filling. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the sour cream, egg, and vanilla, beating until completely smooth.
- Fold in the chopped Tagalongs, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter-filled chips, reserving a few of each for the top. Pour the cheesecake filling into the pan, smoothing out. Press the reserved chips/Tagalong pieces into the top lightly.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Turn the oven off and let the bars sit in there until the oven cools.
- Remove and cool completely. Chill for 2-3 hours before cutting into squares.
3.1
http://justaboutbaked.com/tagalong-cheesecake-bars/
I just watched an episode of Parks and Recreation the other day. Anne says to Ben, “I’d do anything for Leslie. I once ate an entire cheesecake at a party for her because she didn’t want to look bad eating the entire thing herself.” That’s the way I feel about cheesecake. I will live in indulgent, delicious sin with my graham cracker crust and velvety smooth cheesecake! I love this…especially because you used Tagalongs, which are indeed my favorite girl scout cookie. I can’t wait to try these, Mir!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Mushroom and Sweet Potato Pasta
I’m glad they’re your favorite, Erin! They sure make me plenty happy. And I love Parks and Rec!
OMG these bars!! I’m in love. And the cold? I’m so over it. Where is the summer sun?
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted…Butterscotch Cheese Ball
My whole life plan is to move to a warm, hip urban climate on the beach when my kids grow up, Aimee. In the meantime, I’m just gonna eat lots of sugar!
It’s so miserable and cold here ugh!! I am in the same boat as your daughter. At least we’ve been getting to sleep in a bit (cheers to two-hour delays!!) and we have decadent desserts like these bars to help us make it through 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…{Vegan} Spaghetti with Lemon Cream Sauce + Spinach
Two-hour delays ROCK. I’ve gotten so much done before class this morning. Hope you got some sleep, Medha!
I’ll glady take a cheesecake record any day over the weather records we’ve been breaking. It’s brutal. I’m done with this winter business! These bars look fantastic!!!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen recently posted…Southwest Chicken and Sweet Potato Soup
Thanks, Liz! It’s so brutal. I’ve actually started wearing a blanket at work. Not too professional…
We broke a record here last week, too and so many of the schools around my area have been closed for “cold” days! So crazy! But these cheesecake bars look like the perfect thing to warm me up. I’ll take a dozen, please!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread
You too, huh? Not a happy record to break. A dozen cheesecake bars is much nicer to think about…
These look awesome! I’m known to eat a whole package of tagalongs…so these are totally something I need to make. 🙂
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble recently posted…Hummingbird Coffee Cake
I’m known for that too, Kathleen! Great minds binge alike. 🙂
I’m not too excited about the record low temperatures, but hopefully it warms up in the next couple of months 🙂 Love cheesecake bars and have been craving cheesecake for a while , need to make some ! Pinned 🙂
mira recently posted…Thick And Chewy Chocolate Orange Coconut Oil Cookies {Vegan}
Months? Nooooo, Mira! I can’t wait that long! I need, like, now. Thanks for the pin!
Sounds like you are having a harsh winter, I can’t even imagine! At least spring is just around the corner, right? I’m loving your girl scout cookie inspired desserts, this one sounds amazing too!
Danielle @ Live Well Bake Often recently posted…Avocado Chicken Salad & A Giveaway!
Thanks, Danielle! It is pretty harsh, at least for this area. I’m not down with the single digits…
You’re on a bar roll Mir! Sounds like you’ve been needing cheesecake. It cures almost all things. Except for napping kiddos … I feel you, our littles decide road trips great until we get home and then it’s all downhill from there. Everyone needs these!
Mary Frances recently posted…{Vegan} Brown Sugar Caramel Cranberry Walnut Pull Apart Loaf
I wish I could fall asleep in the car, Mary Frances! But yeah, I’d be cranky when I woke up. I do need cheesecake!
What are tagalongs? We must not get that kind here. Are they just peanut butter cookies? At any rate, these bars look fantastic, even not knowing what they are! Hope it warms up for you soon!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Raspberry Lemon Cookies
Stacey, Tagalongs are peanut butter on top of a cookie covered in chocolate. You can sub in peanut butter cups for a similar effect! I bet it’s colder in Canada…
Whaaaaaaat?! My favorite cookie and cheesecake?! Yes! Don’t tell the Thin Mints that I just called the Tagalongs my favorite.
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting recently posted…Boozy Shamrock Shake Cakes
I’ll try not to tell, Julianne, but I’m always a little triumphant when Tagalongs win. Yep, it’s that personal. 🙂
I would be all over setting some cheesecake records…I’m done with these freezing cold records they keep posting. When is summer getting here? I love that you used Tagalongs in these bars. Those are one of my favs too!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted…Chocolate Coconut Cake
I’m all over it, too. And I need summer NOW. You’re in the Midwest too, which is not cool right now. Thanks, Jocelyn!