It’s the third Thursday of the month.
What does that mean?
MY LATEST VIDEOSIt’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.
Chocolatepeanutbutterohmy says
This looks delightful 🙂 what an amazing combination 🙂
http://www.chocolatepeanutbutterohmy.wordpress.com
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love says
This looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Lesa @Edesias Notebook says
Mmm, cheesecake. Looks wonderful!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family says
This is an awesome improv submission. I bowed out this go round, because creatively only a sandwich kept coming to mind. 🙂
I love cheesecake and the short cut of cheerios!
Well done Anna 🙂
beti says
cheesecake by itself id delciious but I can imagine how good these bars taste
The Better Baker says
Those bars sound wonderful and your tutorial is great. Thanks so much for linking up at Weekend Potluck – would love to have you come again soon.
Mimi says
Yum! I think that sums it up.
Mimi
Kate @ Food Babbles says
You've combined 3 of my favorite things! Love this recipe 🙂
Baking Addict says
You had me at peanut butter.. these look incredible!
Angie's Recipes says
Beautiful and delectable pb cheesecake bars! I love all the flavours.
Have a wonderful weekend, Anna.
Kimberly says
I love PB&J and I love cheesecake … and I suspect they are fabulous when combined! Great post … looks and sounds delicious!
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
I've had so much fun reading the PB&J improv posts. The combination isn't done in Australia and when I put them together I get “ewww.” I do it anyway!
These bars look great.
Desi says
Love this take on cheesecake bars. I bet they taste so good! I'm intrigued by the cheerios too.
Cathy Wiechert says
Oh, I hadn't thought of using peanut butter and jelly in cheesecake–what a great idea! I love this!
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Mmm, these are some great recipes! I love the combo..
Cheers.
Baker Street says
Cheesecake bars are my fav and I love that you did the step by step pictures. Great take on this month's improv challenge. 🙂
Anne@FromMySweetHeart says
Oh Anna….having these two ingredients in a cheesecake is sheer perfection! This looks awesome!
Not Your Ordinary Agent says
Oh yum!! Please link this up to Foodie Friday
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
PB&J cheesecake bars – genius!
Jay says
beauuuuuutiful & yummy post….drooling here..;)
Tasty Appetite
Teri@thefreshmancook says
These look wonderful, and I love the ingredients used in the crust~Cheerios? I am so making this recipe!
Steve @ the black peppercorn says
being a huge fan of cheesecake in almost any form, I would seriously devour this!
Choc Chip Uru says
These bars look wonderful – each bite must taste like heaven for sure 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Curry and Comfort says
I would so eat every PB and J recipe from this improv!! I love the cheesecake… great idea. 🙂
Kristen says
You simply cannot go wrong with cheesecake in any form. Those bars sounds lip smacking good!!
Tiffany/MyCrowdedKitchen says
Sweet Anna, I love PB&J. These look delish!
Lizzy says
SO beautiful Anna! I think this would be another pb and j combo I'd eat, too!
Amanda says
Oh yum! Love the step by step too!
Amanda
softandstiffpeaks.blogspot.com
Pam says
Too die for! I love every ingredient in there and am drooling big time. If only I weren't trying to lose a few pounds!!!
Tina Baker says
I love the layering in these bars and I think that you really aced this challenge. Creative use of ingredients, especially the cereal for some good texture in the crust. Impressive and delicious post!
Melody ♪♫ says
ack! Big fan of cheesecake! I'm going to have to try your crust recipe one of these days. (I use Cheerios in place of Rice Krispies for marshmallow treats — don't know why I never thought of crushing them for a crust… Thanks for the good idea!)
aprettymess says
oh my goodness! i cannot wait to try these! they look amazing!
Shannon says
I never thought of peanut butter cheesecake but it sounds like it would be amazing, especially with the jelly cream cheese on top 🙂
Natalie Atick says
Gorgeous bars! I love your step by step pictures!
mr. pineapple man says
peanut butter jelly time!! amazing!
Pranjali says
Hello Anna…Bars looks so yummy and mouthwatering.
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