A Most Divine Cookie Bar

I've been looking for some recipes for our Women's Bible Study cookie exchange in December and I came across a cookie bar that I knew I just had to try. It combined two of my favorite things~ Cheesecake and Pecan Pie. I did make a few changes to the original which you can find here. To say that these are good would be an understatement. They are positively divine. And with a drizzle of chocolate on top they are positively scrumptious. Try them for yourself. The original or my chocolate drizzled version.You'll thank me later. Really.

Ingredients for the shortbread layer

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup of butter that has been softened

1/2 finely ground pecans

Ingredients for the cheesecake layer

2 bricks of cream cheese (8 oz. each)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

Ingredients for the pecan pie layer

3/4 cup packed brown sugar 

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup melted butter, cooled

3 large eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Chocolate Ganache
1/2 semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon butter

Steps 1-2-3

With a pastry blender mix butter, flour and brown sugar until it looks like pea size crumbles. Then add pecans and mix to incorporate.

Press shortbread layer into a 9x13 pan that has been greased. Bake for 10 minutes at 350* Remove and cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile mix together the cream cheese, sugar milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour over shortbread layer and smooth out. Like so~

Bake for 15 minutes at 350* Remove and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. While this is cooling pull together the pecan pie layer. Slightly beat the eggs, add the sugar mix and lastly add the pecans.

Pour over the cheesecake layer and return to the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pecan pie layer is a beautiful golden brown. Remove from the oven and enjoy just like this or add a chocolate ganache.

For the ganache, heat cream until almost boiling. Pour over the chocolate chips and butter and mix until melted. drizzle over the cookie bars.