CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY CHEESECAKE COOKIE BARS

Prep Time :  20 min   Cook Time : 40 min

Total Time : 1 hr     

Ingredients :

For the Cookie Bars:

·         2 eggs

·         2 1/2 cups Flour

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1/2 teaspoon baking soda

·         12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

·         1 cup Nestle Tollhouse Cherry Filled Baking Morsels

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Cherry Cheesecake Filling:

·         1 eggwhite (or 1 egg)

·         1/4 cup powdered sugar

·         1/2 cup tart cherry juice

·         12 ounces low fat cream cheese, softened

Instructions :

1)    Preheat oven to 325F

2)    Spray an 8x8 baking dish with nonstick spray or olive oil. Set aside.

3)    In an electric mixer, mix together the butter and sugar until creamed. Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt. Continue mixing and add in eggs and vanilla. Mix until well combined. Stir in both sets of chocolate chips.

4)    Take half of the dough and press into the bottom of the pan.

5)    Using an electric mixer again, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg white, and cherry juice. Beat until well combined.

6)    Pour the cream cheese mixture over the first layer of cookies in the pan and spread evenly.

7)    For the remaining cookie dough, drop it in small pieces over the cheesecake mixture. The pieces should be touching, but its okay if the entire top isn't covered. The cookie will bake together.

8)    Cook for approximately 40 minutes. The top should be golden brown when finished cooking.

9)    Allow to cool before cutting and serving.

10) Enjoy!