Home ยป Recipes ยป Desserts ยป Bars

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

A cookie crust made from a box mix of cake layered with cream cheese and topped with a tender crumble mixture makes a super easy recipe for Cheesecake Cookie Bars!

This recipe can be mixed up in 15 minutes with ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Easy cheesecake cookie bars made from a box mix

Easy Cheesecake Cookie Bars

If you crave a simple plain cheesecake and a cookie this recipe is for you! This is the EASIEST way I’ve ever made a cheesecake-like dessert and everyone loves them! This is the kind of dessert that you can’t stop eating, these cookie bars are mildly addicting!

In these days where comfort food and simple baking recipes rule this recipe really hit the spot! It’s similar to our Gooey Butter Cake which mixes cream cheese into the box mix rather than having a separate cream cheese layer.

Our extremely popular Churro Cheesecake Bars have a layer of cream cheese sandwiched in between two layers of crescent dough. So anytime we see this feature in a recipe we want to try it!

Save this Recipe
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

Bar cookies like Peanut Butter Caramel Bars are favorite in our house because it’s so easy to adjust the size of your dessert. Cut into small squares, thin rectangles or large squares if you’ve really got something to celebrate.

Stack of cheesecake cookie bars layered with cake mix cookie layer, cream cheese & crumble topping

When I think of a cheesecake dessert I think of our Buckeye Cheesecake which is delicious, but it takes a little more time to make. So we love that a friend shared this much easier cheesecake type dessert that has hands-on time of 15 minutes or less.

Cream cheese is actually one of our favorite ingredients to use in desserts, stuffed bell peppers, sausage dips, and fruit dips! The richness that dairy products add to a meal can be enchanting!

Options to Customize These Dessert Bars

These cream cheese bars with cake mix are just a basic, easy to make yet reliable dessert. I think of our Chocolate Delight and Texas Brownies. These cheesecake bars are very similar in that they are a classic potluck or picnic food. When you take a classic, simple recipe it’s one of the first dishes to empty out because people love familiarity with their food.

If you want to make variations to this classic peanut butter could be mixed in the cream cheese and chocolate chips sprinkled on top.

Mini chocolate chips could be mixed in the cream cheese layer or just sprinkled on top after baking.

Raspberry preserves have been a recent favorite in our Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies and Raspberry Crumb Cake, extra jam could be spread on top after baking.

Garnishing with fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries is another great way to spruce up this light cheesecake dessert!

While we love how good this cheesecake cookie is plan, the options to add toppings or mix-ins to customize are endless, so be creative!

Square Cheesecake cookie bar on a white plate

Another easy recipe that starts with a box of cake mix to make cheesecake and chocolate cake bars is our Marble Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars.

How to Make Cheesecake Cookie Bars

In a mixing bowl I typically use a wooden spoon to stir up the cake mix, vegetable oil and 1 egg. Stir until the mixture is nice and crumbly. The size of the crumbs should be roughly even. Measure out about 1/3 cup of the crumbly mixture and set aside to sprinkle on top later.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9 x 13″ baking pan. Press the remaining crumble mixture into an even layer in the pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While the first layer is baking use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, remaining egg, sugar and lemon juice. Pour over crust and use a spatula to clean the mixing bowl and spread the mixture out in an even layer.

Sprinkle the crumbles evenly over the top and bake for 15 more minutes at the same temperature.

White 9x13 pan of cookie bars from box mix of white cake on wood surface

Other Easy All-American Dessert Recipes:

5 cookie bars layered with cake mix cookie layer, cream cheese & crumble topping

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Servings 30 bars
Author: Jennifer
A cookie crust made from a box mix of cake topped with cream cheese and a tender crumble mixture make a super easy recipe for Cheesecake Cookie Bars!
This recipe can be mixed up in 15 minutes with ingredients you likely already have on hand.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • In a mixing bowl stir cake mix, oil and 1 egg until crumbly. Set aside 1/3 cup of mixture.
  • Press remaining mixture into a greased 9 x 13" baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
  • While the base layer is baking beat cream cheese, 1 egg, sugar and lemon juice. Pour over crust and spread out in an even layer.
  • Sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly on top. Bake for 15 more minutes at 350°F.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 154mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @PlowingThroughLife or tag #PlowingThroughLife!

4 Comments

  1. Lorna Mesenhimer says:

    5 stars
    I’ve tried these both,they were a big hit,will make them again for sure,thanks for your great recipes!!

  2. Allison DeGeorge says:

    5 stars
    I added sour cherry jam and almond slices and it turned out delicious

    1. Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life says:

      Love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing! ~Jennifer

  3. Dani Hemphill says:

    5 stars
    I had a sweet tooth and some cream cheese and some cake mixes. I googled those recipes and yours came up. I thought what a perfect light,not super sweet,8pm treat! I gave it a go,I only changed the teaspoon of lemon juice to a teaspoon of almond extract. I hope it didn’t alter the recipe negatively since the cream cheese topping has an egg in it. But it tastes fabulous! Maybe next time and there will most def be a next time!,I’ll follow to a T and see which we like better. Thanks for the easy,simple,and tasty recipe ma’am!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating