Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bars

Melted chocolate chips stirred into softened cream cheese and sandwiched between layers of crescent dough with melted butter on top makes these super easy and super delicious Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bars.

Every bite of these easy dessert bars is enjoyable and mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top make it more fun to eat!

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescents

Chocolate croissants are one of my favorite bakery treats. Then I thought about how these Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars have been our most popular recipe on Pinterest for several months now and as chocolate lovers, we just had to combine the recipe ideas and create a chocolate version. This is it – Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bars – and this dessert recipe is a keeper!

We debated what to call these – chocolate croissants, chocolate cream cheese croissants, chocolate sopapilla bars? Whatever you call them these chocolate and cream cheese dessert bars are comfort food at it’s finest.

A full batch fits perfectly in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, but the recipe can also be cut in half to fit in an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch baking pan.

Chocolate cream cheese bars are best when slightly warm. The cream cheese needs to cool for a bit when just out of the oven. Once cooled off completely they should be stored in the refrigerator. I like to pop them in the microwave for about 10 to 20 seconds, depending on the size of the bar to warm them up just a touch before enjoying again.

These bars go great at brunch with an egg casserole like our Everything Bagel & Sausage Casserole, Brunch Cups or Candied Bacon for breakfast or brunch.

Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bake

Let’s say you unexpectedly need to stay at home for a while and feel kinda sad about it, this crescent bake might be the brunch item that helps you roll out of bed one day. Since we’re all staying at home together we just have to rotate through our comfort food desserts like Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake, Strawberry Banana Split Cake or Cream Puff Cake.

Chocolate cream cheese crescent bars also make a great dessert after enjoying a casual meal of Pizza Sliders or Ham & Turkey Melt Sliders or even a bit fancier meal like our Farmhouse Hamloaf.

Cream cheese desserts are also always popular at potlucks or carry-ins. And just like our Chocolate Delight with the mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top kids cannot resist trying a piece or two!

My son wanted to experiment with adding the chocolate flavor through melted chocolate chips and through cocoa. He performed his tests in an 8 x 8-inch dish. Our family unanimously agrees that melted semi-sweet chocolate chips are the way to go with mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top for an extra bit of fun and chocolate!

Given the challenges we face while staying at home right now, I wouldn’t hesitate to substitute milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips.

Another recipe that we’ve made with crescent rolls several times is our Easy Cinnamon Crescent Rolls.

Tips for Making

• Start with softened cream cheese
• Crescent dough unrolls easiest when it’s still cold, it’s more difficult to work with at room temperature
• Cream cheese can easily burn when trying to soften in the microwave, so I prefer to set out on the counter for an hour before preparing the recipe
• Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl stirring every 15 seconds to prevent burning
• Recipe can be cut in half and baked in an 8 x 8-inch dish
• We have used both crescent roll dough and crescent sheet dough – they both work well
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips are our favorite
• If mini chips are not available full-size chips or a chocolate bar could be chopped to garnish the top of the bars with a bit more chocolate
• Bars are difficult to cut and serve just out of the oven and will not hold together well
• Chocolate croissant bars are best when served slightly warm or at room temperature
• Bars may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, freezing is not recommended

How to Make Chocolate Croissant Bake

Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and place one package of crescent roll dough across the bottom. If necessary seems can be lightly pinched together to help create a smooth sheet.

Use an electric mixer to mix softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave stirring about every 15 to 20 seconds until melted. Beat into cream cheese mixture and spread over crescent dough.

Spread the second package of crescent dough on top. Pinch seams together if necessary to create a more solid sheet.

Melt a stick of butter and pour evenly over crescent dough. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 – 30 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to rest for a few minutes before sprinkling mini chocolate chips on top.

Other Delicious Cream Cheese Desserts

• Ten Minute Berry Cheesecake
• Banana Cream Delight
• Classic Buckeye Cheesecake
• Mini Cheesecake Dessert Bar
• Gooey Butter Cake
• Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Printable Chocolate Cream Cheese Crescent Bars Recipe