Mocha Chip Cheesecake Bars

A cookie bar with an oat-cookie crust topped with a coffee and chocolate flavored cheesecake filling studded and garnished with semisweet chocolate chips.

Recipe Ingredients:

Crust:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups quick or old fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour

Filling:
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons instant coffee granules or espresso powder
1 tablespoon unsweetened baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips - divided use

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. For crust, beat butter and brown sugar in medium bowl until creamy. Add oats and flour; mix well. Press dough evenly onto bottom of ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
3. For filling, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, coffee granules, cocoa and vanilla in large bowl on medium speed of electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs; beat just until well blended. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate morsels. Pour filling evenly over crust. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate morsels.
4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

Makes 24 bars.