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.
Steve 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 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!
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
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!)
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 🙂
mr. pineapple man says
peanut butter jelly time!! amazing!
Pranjali says
Hello Anna...Bars looks so yummy and mouthwatering.
aprettymess says
oh my goodness! i cannot wait to try these! they look amazing!
Natalie Atick says
Gorgeous bars! I love your step by step pictures!