CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BARS

Chocolate Cheesecake Bars image

When you don't have time to bake a real cheesecake, reach for this easy recipe. An almond-flavored dough serves as both crust and topping for a soft fudgy filling. -Louise Good, Flemington, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield 4 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
FILLING:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Steps:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Press half the dough onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Set aside remaining dough for topping., For filling, in a large saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, cream cheese and milk; cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in walnuts and extract. Spread over dough., Break off small pieces of remaining dough; drop over filling. Bake at 375° until topping is golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 160 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 92mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.