• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Plowing Through Life

  • Recipes
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Slow Cooker
    • Casserole
  • Life
    • Disney
    • Family Fun
    • Reviews
    • Farming
    • Faith
  • About
Home » Recipes » Desserts » Bars » Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

April 8, 2020 by Jennifer @ Plowing Through Life Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe

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 Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars and Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bars have a layer of cream cheese sandwiched in between two layers of crescent dough.

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.

We also enjoy a Mini Cheesecakes in a Dessert Bar and a no-bake 10 Minute Berry Cheesecake with pie filling on top.

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!

Ways to Customize

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 Bars, 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:

  • Big Batch of Brownies
  • Chocolate Syrup Brownies
  • Strawberry Banana Split Cake
  • Cream Puff Cake
  • Pineapple Pretzel Salad

Printable Cheesecake Cookie Bars Recipe

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

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

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.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cheesecake Cookie Bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 30 bars
Calories: 123kcal

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.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 117IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Follow me@PlowingThroughLife and mention #PlowingThroughLife!

Related

Filed Under: Bars, Desserts

Previous Post: « Air Fryer Asian Asparagus
Next Post: Hearty Beef Stew »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Connect With Us

Sign up today for free recipes and updates from the farm.

Newsletter Subscribe
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Hi I’m Jennifer

I want to make life easier by creating simple dinner recipes for my family and yours. Read More…

Seasonal Favorites

Potato Bar ideas in small bowls and on baked potatoes
Slice of easy no-bake cheesecake recipe covered with cherry pie filling
Bacon and cheese on shredded pork sliders on a Hawaiian roll
About PlowingThroughLife.com       DISCLOSURE, DISCLAIMER & PRIVACY POLICIES

Copyright © 2023 Plowing Through Life
Website by Blue Valley Technologies

 

Loading Comments...