Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
These chocolate cheesecake bars are smooth, creamy and decadent. With a crunchy Oreo cookie crust and optional chocolate ganache topping, this decadent cheesecake recipe is easier than a traditional cheesecake and feeds a crowd.
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Cooling & Chilling5 hours hrs
Total Time6 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate Cheesecake Bars, Chocolate Cheesecake Squares
Servings: 15 pieces
Oreo Crust
- 36 Oreo cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (112 grams) melted
Chocolate Cheesecake
- 10 oz dark chocolate (283 grams) 50-70%
- 24 oz full-fat cream cheese (680 grams) softened to room temperature
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar (250 grams)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch AKA cornflour in the UK
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup sour cream (180 ml) room temperature
- 4 large eggs room temperature
Chocolate Ganache
- 8 ounces dark chocolate (226 grams) about 50% or semi-sweet
- 2/3 cup heavy cream (160 ml) or whipping cream
Preheat the oven to 325F degrees.
Lightly grease a 9x13 inch (23 x 33 cm) baking pan, or line with aluminium foil so that there's an overhang around the edges.
Crust
Add the cookies (wafers and filling) to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs. Alternatively, place the cookies in a freezer bag and crush with a rolling pin.
Mix together the crushed cookies and melted butter.
Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, making an even layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, leaving it turned on.
Filling
Chop the chocolate into very small pieces. Place the chopped chocolate in a large heat proof bowl, and microwave for 45-second intervals on medium power (not high power, which is often the default). Stir the chocolate between each interval. Repeat the process until smooth. Alternatively, melt in a double boiler over low-medium heat. Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Place the heatproof bowl over the top of a saucepan with a gently simmering water in the saucepan. Ensure that the water isn't touching the bottom of the bowl. Once melted, remove the chocolate from the heat. Set aside.
In a very large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and cornstarch together until smooth and creamy (about 3-5 minutes). Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
Beat in the melted chocolate and sour cream. Again, turn off the mixer and scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs. Then mix the eggs into the cheesecake mixture about 1/2 at a time until combined.
Pour the batter over the baked crust and smooth the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top looks almost set in the middle and the cheesecake has a slight wobble.
Turn off the oven and open the oven door. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for about 10 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven.
Cool the cheesecake fully until it reaches room temperature. Cover the pan and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight to chill.
Chocolate Ganache
Finely chop the chocolate and place in a heatproof bowl.
Heat the cream until almost boiling - either in the microwave using short 30 second intervals or gently in a saucepan over low heat.
Pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. If the chocolate isn't quite melted, microwave for 45 seconds on medium power (do not use high power) and whisk until smooth.
Remove the cheesecake from the fridge. Blot any moisture off the top of the cheesecake, then pour the ganache over top. Smooth into an even layer. Return the cheesecake to the fridge until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, take the cheesecake out of the fridge. If you lined the pan, lift the bars out of the pan using the overhang of the aluminium foil - lifting from the long ends. Place on a cutting board. Slice with a sharp knife. Be sure to cut all the way through the crust. For clean cuts - wipe off the knife in between after each slice.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: The cream cheese, eggs and sour cream should be room temperature before getting started
- Cream Cheese: Make sure to use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Do not use low fat or low calorie cream cheese, or anything labeled spreadable or whipped.
- Storage: Store cheesecake covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. I typically make the cheesecake the day before I plan to serve it.
- Nutrition: Nutrition information is an estimate only and based on 1 slice with chocolate ganache, assuming the pan is sliced into 15 equal pieces. You can very likely serve more than 15 people with this recipe because the bars are rich.
Calories: 645kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 934IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 8mg