Classic Buckeye Cheesecake Bars Recipe: Peanut Butter Bliss

Decadent chocolate and peanut butter create magic in these irresistible buckeye cheesecake bars that blend two classic dessert favorites into one incredible treat.

The rich combination of smooth peanut butter and silky chocolate sends taste buds on an adventure of pure indulgence.

Ohio’s beloved buckeye flavors meld seamlessly with a creamy cheesecake base, promising a dessert that’s both familiar and exciting.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes that dance across your palate.

The layered texture provides a delightful contrast between the velvety cheesecake and the smooth chocolate-peanut butter topping.

Simple ingredients come together to craft a dessert that looks impressive but requires minimal effort.

This recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 17

Ingredients That Bring Buckeye Cheesecake Bars to Life

• Oreo Cookies: Chocolatey foundation that adds rich, dark crunch and sweet backdrop for cheesecake layer.
• Unsalted Butter: Binds cookie crumbs together, creating a smooth, compact base that holds perfectly when sliced.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity, balancing sweetness with subtle savory notes.

• Cream Cheese: Provides luxurious, velvety texture and tangy richness that defines classic cheesecake.
• Peanut Butter: Introduces nutty, smooth flavor profile with classic American comfort food appeal.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create silky, stable cheesecake consistency.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and gentle tang, ensuring incredibly soft, creamy texture.
• Eggs: Act as critical binding agent, helping cheesecake set with perfect structural integrity.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers warm, aromatic depth that complements peanut butter and chocolate.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness, amplifying overall flavor complexity.
• Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread: Introduces luxurious swirl of chocolatey, nutty undertones.

• Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Provide rich, glossy ganache with deep chocolate intensity.
• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth, luxurious ganache with perfect pouring consistency.
• Flaky Salt: Adds elegant finishing touch, highlighting chocolate's complex flavor profile.

Tools for Smooth Layers and a Clean Cheesecake Base

• Food processor: Perfect for crushing Oreos into fine crumbs quickly and evenly.
• 9×9-inch baking pan: Essential for creating the ideal bar thickness and size.
• Parchment paper: Helps easily lift cheesecake bars out of the pan without sticking.
• Electric mixer: Ensures cream cheese and other ingredients blend smoothly without lumps.
• Mixing bowls: Needed for combining different components of the recipe.
• Whisk: Great for creating smooth ganache and mixing ingredients.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Sharp knife: Used for cutting clean, precise cheesecake bars.

How to Build Buckeye Bars with Precision

• Oreo Foundation

Crush chocolate sandwich cookies into fine crumbs, blending with melted butter to create a rich, sturdy base that will cradle your creamy dessert.

• Smooth Cream Mixture

Whip cream cheese until velvety, introducing peanut butter and hazelnut spread for a luxurious, decadent flavor profile that will make taste buds dance.

• Baking Magic

Pour the silky filling over the cookie crust, allowing it to settle into a perfect, even layer before sliding into a warm oven for gentle transformation.

• Chocolate Crown

Melt chocolate chips with warm cream, creating a glossy ganache that will cascade over the chilled cheesecake like a sophisticated waterfall of sweetness.

• Finishing Touch

Sprinkle a whisper of sea salt across the top, adding a sophisticated contrast that elevates the entire dessert from delicious to extraordinary.

Flavor Boosts for Your Peanut Butter-Chocolate Balance

• Replace Oreos with graham crackers or chocolate wafers for a different base crunch. This simple swap brings new texture and flavor dimensions to your dessert.
• Prepare these bars up to 3 days in advance, keeping them tightly covered in the refrigerator. They actually taste better after the flavors meld together overnight.
• Drizzle additional melted chocolate or sprinkle chocolate shavings on top for extra decadence. Dark, milk, or white chocolate work beautifully with the peanut butter base.
• Experiment with crushed peanuts, chopped hazelnuts, or caramel drizzle to elevate the visual appeal and add exciting texture contrasts. Each topping brings a unique personality to the cheesecake bars.
• Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer preservation, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and freeze for up to one month, ensuring a sweet treat is always within reach.

Serving Buckeye Cheesecake Bars with Neat Presentation

• Cozy Game Night Delight: Slice these bars into bite-sized squares perfect for sharing during board game evenings with friends, creating a fun dessert experience.
• Elegant Dessert Platter: Arrange the bars on a beautiful serving plate with fresh berries and a light dusting of cocoa powder for a sophisticated presentation that elevates the dessert.
• Coffee Companion Treat: Pair these rich, decadent bars with a warm espresso or cappuccino, letting the chocolate and peanut butter flavors complement the coffee's robust notes.
• Picnic Perfect Dessert: Pack these bars in individual containers for outdoor gatherings, ensuring a delightful sweet treat that travels well and impresses everyone at the event.

Keeping Cheesecake Bars Fresh and Dense Over Time

• Smart Fridge Storage: Keep these delectable bars in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The sealed environment prevents flavor absorption and maintains that incredible creamy texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire cheesecake bars 2-3 days before your event. The flavors actually deepen and become more harmonious when resting in the refrigerator, making them perfect for advance preparation.
• Freezing Friendly: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. These treats can be frozen for approximately 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best taste and texture.
• Serving Temperature Tip: Remove bars from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving. This slight warming allows the ganache to soften and brings out the rich, complex flavors of chocolate, peanut butter, and creamy cheesecake.

Creamy Buckeye Cheesecake Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 17 1x

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Description

Buckeye cheesecake bars blend Ohio’s favorite peanut butter and chocolate treat with creamy cheesecake perfection. Rich layers promise indulgent dessert magic for chocolate and peanut butter fans seeking sweet satisfaction.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 16 oz (454 g) full-fat cream cheese
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup (177 ml) smooth peanut butter
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ cup (60 ml) chocolate-hazelnut spread
• 8 oz (226 g) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
• 1 tsp flaky salt
• 20 Oreo cookies
• 5 tbsps (71 g) unsalted butter
• ½ tsp kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare Crust: Pulverize Oreo cookies with salt in a food processor. Integrate melted butter until mixture resembles wet sand. Press firmly into parchment-lined 9×9-inch pan and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, then cool slightly.
2. Create Cheesecake Filling: Whip cream cheese and sugar until silky smooth. Blend in sour cream, peanut butter, hazelnut spread, vanilla extract, and salt until uniform. Gradually incorporate eggs, mixing thoroughly and scraping bowl sides to ensure even distribution.
3. Bake Cheesecake: Pour filling over prepared crust, spreading evenly to eliminate air pockets. Bake 22-26 minutes until edges set and center slightly wobbles. Cool at room temperature for one hour, then refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight.
4. Prepare Ganache Topping: Gently heat heavy cream to simmering point. Pour over dark chocolate chips and let rest 2-3 minutes. Whisk until glossy and smooth. Cool to pourable consistency.
5. Finish and Serve: Drizzle ganache over chilled cheesecake, tilting to ensure complete coverage. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes to set ganache. Remove from pan using parchment overhang, slice into 16 squares, and serve chilled.

Notes

• Chill for Perfection: Refrigerate the cheesecake for 4-6 hours or overnight to ensure a firm, smooth texture that cuts cleanly and holds its shape.
• Prevent Cracking Technique: Beat cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth, and add eggs one at a time to create a silky, crack-free cheesecake surface.
• Room Temperature Magic: Let ingredients like cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream sit at room temperature before mixing to create a more uniform, lump-free batter.
• Ganache Wisdom: Allow ganache to cool slightly before pouring to achieve the ideal pourable consistency that spreads evenly without overwhelming the cheesecake.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 17
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg