Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars

       It's the third Thursday of the month.

       What does that mean?

      It's the Improv Challenge time!!

      As a participant, you have to make something that will include two assigned ingredients.

      This month the two ingredients were: peanut butter and jelly.

       A perfect pair for a baker, if you ask me.

      As of recently I am on a bars roll, I went with cheesecake bars for the challenge.

     They are delicious and will satisfy any pb&j lover. Yum!



 Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars

makes 16

for the crust:
1/2 c butter, softened
1/3 c powdered sugar
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c oatmeal
1/4 c Cheerios, crushed

                                                       Grease a 8" x 8" square baking dish. Set aside.

Beat the butter for 2 minutes.
The butter has to be really soft. It whips better.

Add the sugar and beat until fluffy.

Add the flour and mix it all with a spatula or a wooden spoon.

Add the cereal and oatmeal and mix it all until combined.

Press the dough into your prepared pan.
 It will be sticky so be patient.
Note: I highly recommend using parchment paper or a aluminum foil to line the pan with. It will make it easier to get the baked bars out onto a platter. I will certainly do that next time. :)

Bake for 18 - 20 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
Leave the oven on the same temperature.









for the filling:
1 8oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg, room temperature
1/3 c peanut butter
1/4 c granulated sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 Tbsp jelly ( I used my homemade cranberry jam )

Beat the cream cheese until creamy.

Reserve about a 1/2 c of soft, whipped cream cheese.
Mix it will 3 Tbsp of jelly. Set aside.

To the rest of the cream cheese, add the peanut butter and beat until combined.

Add the sugar and beat until fluffy.
Like this. :) Yum!
Now go, give your Hubby a spoonful to taste.
He will love you for it.
Trust me. :)

Add the egg and mix well.
Add the vanilla and milk and mix again.
Add the flour and stir with a spatula or a wooden spoon.

Spread the cheesecake filling over the crust.

Spoon out the jelly cream cheese mixture and swirl with a spoon.
Bake 18 - 20 minutes. It will appear set and start to come off on the sides.
Cool for 30 minutes on the counter and then transfer to a fridge and cool about 2 hours.

Voila! PB and J cheesecake bars to enjoy. :)
You can warm up a little bit of jelly in a small bowl in a microwave and drizzle if over the bars before serving.






If you are interested in participating and joining the Improv Challenge group, contact Kristen from Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker.
I hope you do, because it's always lots of fun!

Enjoy!

The winner of the Dessert Decorator Pro was announced yesterday. You can see it here.

xoxo,

Also linking this up to Sweet Treats Thursday on Something Swanky. and Foodie Friday. and Weekend Potluck.