Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars


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Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

We’re here. Gingerbread season. Let’s do it up right!

I’ll be honest with you: I have very mixed feelings about the holidays. They seem to be an elaborate ruse to guide us toward winter with enthusiasm, where we’re left in January with bare trees, chilly mornings and frozen windshields. But on the other hand, those lights sure are pretty.

While I don’t celebrate Christmas, I can get down with gingerbread anything. That includes these gingerbread cookie cheesecake bars, which are both easy and festive. They’re also studded with cinnamon chips, one of my favorite baking inventions.

Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Here’s my pet peeve of the week: ready? People in parking lots with no manners.

When I was a kid, it was common courtesy (not to mention a safety practice) to drive through parking lots slowly, allowing for the possibility that either a person or a car would appear in your path. I very strongly remember a time when, if a person were pulling out of a parking spot, someone driving past them would respectfully stop and wait for them to finish coming out of the space, letting them go first.

Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Now, cars shoot through the lots at high speed, and if someone is coming out of a space, they typically swerve around that person and continue on their merry way. I’ve seen more than a few people almost killed by this practice. And aside from being dangerous, it’s also downright rude.

Plus, we all know how hard it is to see what’s behind us in parking lots. My head is always swiveling like crazy, trying to see everything at the same time. As much as I love Trader Joe’s, backing out of a parking space in that jammed little lot terrifies me. My car isn’t fancy enough for one of those rear-view cameras, which I hear really help.

Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

This holiday season, let’s all begin by not just being kinder and more generous in person, but also by letting someone back out of their f-ing parking space. Can we all just do that for one person? Great. Rant concluded.

The last time I was at Trader Joe’s, I picked up some of their refrigerated gingerbread cookie dough. It formed the base for these lovely bars. On top went a layer of simple cheesecake batter with cinnamon chips, and I added some caramel sauce for bling. Mission accomplished. Yet another holiday bar option to celebrate and enjoy!

Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Bar cookies are my favorite, in case you haven’t figured that out by now. But they’re especially marvelous this time of year, because they pack and go very easily. Perfect for potluck holiday parties!

Whether or not you see winter looming this holiday season, be sure to fill it with good cookies and even better parking lot etiquette. It’ll guarantee you points with Santa or whatever higher power you believe in!

 

Gingerbread Cookie Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

Cookie Base
2 packages refrigerated gingerbread cookie dough (Trader Joe's)
Cheesecake
8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened (I used light)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup cinnamon chips
Garnish
caramel sauce, for drizzling
cinnamon chips (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving enough to hang over the sides. Coat with cooking spray.
  2. Open the packages of cookie dough. Using all but three or four of the cookies (you can save for later to bake on their own), press the cookies into the pan evenly, patting them down to be flat and connected.
  3. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes. While they're baking, make the cheesecake layer. In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and stir again until completely incorporated. Fold in the cinnamon chips.
  4. Pour the cheesecake batter over the cookie base and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until set.
  5. Cool completely and cool overnight.
  6. When ready, cut into squares. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top and sprinkle on more cinnamon chips.
https://justaboutbaked.com/gingerbread-cookie-cheesecake-bars/

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 28 Comments

  1. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    I’m totally convinced by the holidays, haha! My favorite time of the year 🙂 One of my favorite parts of the holidays is definitely the baking- peppermint and gingerbread are my lifeblood in December- these bars look awesome!
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…{2015} Vegan Thanksgiving!My Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep, those are happy flavors. Gingerbread especially!

  2. Sues

    Gingerbread is one of my favorite holiday flavors and these look glorious! Pinned 🙂
    Sues recently posted…Chocolate Marshmallow Holiday Skillet CookieMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Sues! I love it, too!

  3. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    Yay for gingerbread season – this looks like a great place to start with gingerbread.
    I know what you mean, it is all a bit of an anti-climax when you get to January, but I do love Christmas. It’s my favourite time of the year 🙂
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Roasted Red Pepper Spaghetti by DanniiMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I wish it were mine, but I’m more of a summer girl!

  4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    I don’t mind winter through December, and only because of the holidays. But after that, I’m done with the cold! These gingerbread bars look fantastic, Mir! What a great way to ring in the season!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Peppermint Hot Chocolate CookiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Gayle! I’m done with the cold already. Before it starts, even!

  5. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Mir, don’t even get me started with the people in parking lots with no manners. I guess the holiday rush and craziness take over. . but then again, there are people who are like that all year long! 🙂 I totally agree!!! about being kind and generous this holiday season! We so need to remember that! and hooray for these gingerbread-cookie-cheesecake-bars!!! Thanks for sharing these!!! I LOVE them! and will have to look for the refrigerated gingerbread cookie dough at TJ’s!
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Baked Cod with Olive ToppingMy Profile

    1. Mir

      It’s very tasty refrigerated dough, Alice. TJ’s is a dangerous place! But it’s worth it, even with the crazy parking lot people.

  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    Giiiiirl, I feel you! People are flipping rude, especially this time of year. And especially in parking lots! I hope the next time you go to TJs someone has read this post and let’s you back out. 🙂 These bars look fabulous, Mir! I’m totally naming you bar queen, because all the ones you turn out look beyond delish! The combo of gingerbread, cookie nd cheesecake sound dangerously yummy! Cheers, my dear!
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Parsnip & Leek Soup with Brussels Sprouts & Bacon GarnishMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I hate backing out of parking spaces. Always so scary! But cheesecake is not. I love it!

  7. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks

    Gah! You are so right! People are nuts out there! And is it a requirement that all Trader Joe’s have inadequate parking lots? What is not inadequate is this recipe. This gingerbread, cheesecake, cinnamon chip combo is the perfect kickoff to the holiday season – even if it does lead us to naked trees and frozen windshields, but the lights sure are pretty!
    Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Homemade Butterscotch PuddingMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I think it’s universal, Rachelle. I was once at a TJs in San Fran that had this terrifying slanted parking lot. Why oh why?!

  8. Amy

    Great flavor combination, I love it.
    Amy recently posted…Vegetable SoupMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Amy. Me too!

  9. annie@ciaochowbambina

    You are so right – people can act dangerously and be so rude – thankfully your head swivels at just the right speed to avoid any collisions! The one collision I could handle right about now is this bar with my mouth!! YUMMM!
    annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Ragù Finto via “Best Food Writing 2015”My Profile

    1. Mir

      That’s true, I should be grateful for head swivel speed. Thanks, Annie!

  10. Rachel @ Bakerita

    Oooh these look like little slices of heaven!! I love gingerbread in the winter, and the cheesecake makes these totally over the top in the best way possible 🙂
    Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted…Apple Butter RugelachMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I love it too. Gingerbread is always so unexpectedly addictive!

  11. Amanda

    I’ve always thought I’d like winter a lot more if somehow we could magically get the sun to set at 8:30 at night instead of 4:30. But that’s probably not going to happen, so I’ll just string up twenty more sets of Christmas lights. These bars look so good. I’m with you on gingerbread. I can’t get enough of it. I used to make gingerbread houses, take a picture quick, then demolish it and eat it pretty much right away. That’s gingerbread fever. Yum!
    Amanda recently posted…Turtle PieMy Profile

    1. Mir

      The early darkness is such a problem, Amanda. Could not agree with you more on that!

  12. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    I swear everyone is more rude these days. No one goes single file on the sidewalk either – even older people who should know better- and it drives me nuts!! /rant

    These bars. I LOVE!!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Santa’s Favorite CookiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      You’re right, they don’t! I’ve been pushed over onto the grass so many times. I love that pet peeve!!

  13. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    These bars are pure genius! What a great combination of gingerbread and cream cheese. Sounds irresistible for sure. I’m so with you about rudeness in the parking lot. What’s wrong with people? I ask myself that EVERY day.
    😮
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…December Bucket List IdeasMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Michele! I have to remember all the nice things people do, or I get too upset!

  14. Jenny Kim

    Everyone is in a hurry these days, you have to be vigilant. Love the recipe!

    http://www.pixics.com/blog
    Jenny Kim recently posted…Swallows And Lace NecklaceMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yes, they sure are, Jenny. Thanks so much!

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