These Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars are two layers of cookie dough packed with peanut butter and M&M’S candy and filled with a creamy chocolate cheesecake filling!
Our cheesecake bars are a reader favorite. Be sure to try our eggnog cheesecake bars, snickerdoodle cheesecake bars, and lemon cheesecake bars too!
Why this Recipe Works
I have some very talented friends. And it seems month after month they are releasing cookbooks, left and right! However, there is one cookbook I’ve been anxiously awaiting, for about TWO years.
My friend, Jocelyn from Inside BruCrew Life is like my blogging bestie. The girl I can rant to, bounce ideas off of, share my struggles with, and also, she’s my Crunch Pak apple girl partner! When she told me she was writing a Cheesecake Cookbook, I knew it was going to be amazing. This girl creates the most decadent, unique cheesecakes ever!
After dog-earing about a dozen recipes from her new cookbook, “Cheesecake Love“, I finally settled on one that I knew YOU all would love. You seem to go bonkers over my Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars already. So I hope you love these Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars as much as my family does!
There’s only one thing we need to resolve. In a traditional monster cookie recipe, you’ll find raisins. Yay or nay?
See, I love raisins, but I knew my family wouldn’t so I kept them out. Ironically, Jocelyn skipped them in her recipe too. But, if you’re a traditionalist, I say toss some in! And then send me some 🙂
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Line your baking dish with foil or parchment paper. When the bars are done cooking and cooling, you simply lift the foil out of the pan and you can slice them on a big cutting board.
- I used regular milk chocolate M&M’S in this recipe, however to make them festive you can use any holiday candies, or better yet, use the Peanut Butter M&M’S (my favorite)!
- Plan ahead. You’ll want to give these bars plenty of time in the refrigerator to set and chill. I prefer to make them the day before, and let them chill in the refrigerator overnight.
- Depending on your crowd, you can choose to cut these into large squares, or cut each square into a triangle! They’re very rich, so a little goes a long way!
- Want to mix things up? Use chunky peanut butter in your cookie dough. Add raisins in a addition to chocolate chips. Be bold and enjoy!
- Interested in MORE cheesecake recipe…get the “Cheesecake Love” cookbook today! Or add it to your holiday wishlist!
More Easy Dessert Ideas
- No Bake Cheesecake
- Classic Cheesecake Recipe
- Monster Cookies
- Chocolate Cheesecake
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section below!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups M&M’S candies divided
For the cheesecake:
- 2 packages 8-ounce each cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 ounce semi-sweet baking chocolate melted
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with foil. Spray with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with sugars and peanut butter until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat again. Add in salt, baking soda, flour, oats and milk until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips and 1 cup of M&M’S.
- Press half of the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
- For the cheesecake filling, beat cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add in sugar and beat until smooth. Add in melted chocolate and eggs. Beat until eggs are fully incorporated, but don’t overbeat.
- Spread cheesecake over first layer of cookie dough. Top with remaining cookie dough and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup candy over the top.
- Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Cut into bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Line your baking dish with foil or parchment paper. When the bars are done cooking and cooling, you simply lift the foil out of the pan and you can slice them on a big cutting board.
- I used regular milk chocolate M&M’S in this recipe, however to make them festive you can use any holiday candies, or better yet, use the Peanut Butter M&M’S (my favorite)!
- Plan ahead. You’ll want to give these bars plenty of time in the refrigerator to set and chill. I prefer to make them the day before, and let them chill in the refrigerator overnight.
- Depending on your crowd, you can choose to cut these into large squares, or cut each square into a triangle! They’re very rich, so a little goes a long way!
- Want to mix things up? Use chunky peanut butter in your cookie dough. Add raisins in a addition to chocolate chips. Be bold and enjoy!
- Interested in MORE cheesecake recipe…get the “Cheesecake Love” cookbook today! Or add it to your holiday wishlist!
YUM! It looks so good!
Haha! I had to skip the raisins in the bars too because my family would have been ticked at me! And Cassie loves your idea of putting the peanut butter M&M’s in them next because those are her favorites too! Thank you so much for making a recipe and sharing about my cookbook! I puffy heart love you to the moon and back!!!