By Lindy Van Schalkwyk, last updated on August 29, 2022
These Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars are a fun way to spice up your go-to delicious dessert recipe collection!
These bars are incredibly easy to make and also don’t take as long as regular cheesecake. They bake quickly, cool a lot faster, and are ready to serve in a couple of hours. So, what are you waiting for?
About Our Delicious Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
Despite this mouthful of a name, the concept behind Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars is fairly simple. But simple, as we always say, doesn’t mean boring!
These bars combine two of America’s most loved desserts. This includes choc chip cookie dough and cheesecake! We’ve also shaped these into bars that make it a lot easier to portion and eat on the go!
They are perfect for any occasion including kitchen teas, birthday parties, Christmas dinners, and date nights!
To make these cheesecake bars, all you need is a simple baked cheesecake recipe and premade Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough.
Now, you can make your own cookie dough from scratch, but that defeats the purpose of these quick and easy bars. The Pillsbury dough is ready to use and just has to be shaped and baked.
This recipe can be finished in a couple of hours and makes enough to last you a couple of days. But to be perfectly honest, every time we make them, they are gone within the hour! They’re that good!
What You Need To Make These Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 2 rolls (16.5-ounces each ) Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, refrigerated
- 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 3/4 cups fine caster sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
- 3/4 cup shredded coconut, optional but recommended
Equipment
- 13×9-inch rectangular baking pan
- Non-stick baking paper
- Non-stick cooking spray (or melted butter)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Cooling rack
- Plastic or saran wrap
- Chopping board
- Sharp serrated knife
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the cookie dough crust
First, preheat your oven to 360ºF (180ºC). Then, line a large rectangular baking pan with non-stick baking paper and cooking spray.
With floured fingers, unroll the cookie dough sheets. Combine them by kneading them gently in a bowl until they come together. Then, remove 3/4 of the dough. Press this portion of dough directly into your lined cake pan.
Make sure that it fits tightly into the corners and that it is even in thickness. Set this pan aside until you need it later.
The remaining quarter of the dough can also be set aside. You will use this piece as a garnish for a crumbly texture.
Step 2: Make the cheesecake batter
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat them together until they become fluffy. The sugar should also have started to dissolve.
Then, add one egg at a time, mixing well between each addition. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract, lemon juice, and shredded coconut.
Step 3: Assemble and bake
Pour the cheesecake batter over the cookie dough-lined baking pan. Then, smooth it out at the top to ensure it’s even in thickness.
Next, crumble the remaining Pillsbury cookie dough over the cheesecake mixture.
Bake the cheesecake bars for 40-60 minutes, or until the cheesecake is finished baking.
Step 4: Cool and portion the cheesecake bars
Remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature. Then, cover it with plastic or saran wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.
Once cooled, remove it from the cake pan and cut it into equally sized squares or rectangular bars.
Tips And Tricks
- If you don’t have the correct size baking pan, you can use this conversion chart to see what other cake pan you can use. You may also use multiple smaller pans if you have to.
- You can add large chunks of chopped chocolate inside the raw cookie dough before adding the cheesecake batter. The chocolate chunks will help during baking and leave you with oozy decadent chocolate bars.
- For these Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars, we used a regular vanilla cheesecake recipe. However, you can also flavor it with extracts or essences. For example, make a chocolate cheesecake, mint cheesecake, or orange cheesecake filling instead.
- Another delicious topping you can add along with the crumbled cookie dough, is chopped nuts. They will also add crunch and a ton more flavor. Personally, we like almond shavings or pecan nut chunks. Only add the nuts at the 40-minute baking mark. Then, brown them for another couple of minutes or until the cheesecake is finished baking.
- Your cheesecake is finished baking once it reaches an internal temperature of 150ºF (65ºC). Alternatively, you can see whether or not it still jiggles. it should only wobble on the center inch or two. Anything more than this and the cheesecake needs to bake for longer.
- These Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars have to be stored inside the fridge. You can place them in an airtight container and keep them for up to 5 days! If you don’t store them like this, the cheesecake will spoil quickly.
Preparations Times And Servings
Final Thoughts
As you can see, while Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars seem like a massive laborious task, they are very easy. Possibly even easier than cheesecake!
They are packed with chocolatey goodness and an uber creamy vanilla cheesecake recipe. All in all, it is the perfect fun cheesecake snack for any occasion.
So, if you tried this recipe at home, let us know what you think in the comments below. And, if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
FAQs
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Easy Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars
Equipment
- 13x9-inch rectangular baking pan
- Non-stick baking paper
- Non-stick cooking spray (or melted butter)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Cooling rack
- Plastic or saran wrap
- Chopping board
- Sharp serrated knife
Ingredients
- 2 rolls (16.5-ounces each ) Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, refrigerated
- 16 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 3/4 cups fine caster sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
- 3/4 cup shredded coconut, optional but recommended
Instructions
- Make the cookie dough crustFirst, preheat your oven to 360ºF (180ºC). Then, line a large rectangular baking pan with non-stick baking paper and cooking spray.With floured fingers, unroll the cookie dough sheets. Combine them by kneading them gently in a bowl until they come together. Then, remove 3/4 of the dough. Press this portion of dough directly into your lined cake pan.Make sure that it fits tightly into the corners and that it is even in thickness. Set this pan aside until you need it later.The remaining quarter of the dough can also be set aside. You will use this piece as a garnish for a crumbly texture.2 rolls (16.5-ounces each ) Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, refrigerated
- Make the cheesecake batterIn a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Beat them together until they become fluffy. The sugar should also have started to dissolve.Then, add one egg at a time, mixing well between each addition. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract, lemon juice, and shredded coconut.16 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened at room temperature, 3/4 cups fine caster sugar, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional, 3/4 cup shredded coconut, optional but recommended
- Assemble and bakePour the cheesecake batter over the cookie dough-lined baking pan. Then, smooth it out at the top to ensure it's even in thickness.Next, crumble the remaining Pillsbury cookie dough over the cheesecake mixture.Bake the cheesecake bars for 40-60 minutes, or until the cheesecake is finished baking.2 rolls (16.5-ounces each ) Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, refrigerated
- Cool and portion the cheesecake barsRemove the cheesecake from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature. Then, cover it with plastic or saran wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.Once cooled, remove it from the cake pan and cut it into equally sized squares or rectangular bars.
Notes
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.