Hello Friends,

It’s been a while… I promise I didn’t forget about you! 🙂 I find it (just a bit hard) to be a baker and try to be on a weight-loss plan. Finally, I think I am figuring out how to have these two coexist, so I am back to doing what I love!

Idea for these chocolaty bars came at a moment which I like to refer to as “baking inspiration”. This recipe is my own creation and I dedicate it to all my good friends spread all over the world. Some of you I have known since childhood days, some of you are brand new friends, with some of you I have reconnected again and some of you I’ve met in this virtual world. All of you have brought a part of you and your world to share and I feel great deal richer and happier because of it. Here is to FRIENDSHIP!

 

Bailey’s Chocolate Cheesecake Bars aka {Friendship Bars}

[Printable recipe]

For the crust:

•          12 TBSP (170 g) butter (softened)
•          1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
•          1 pack vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
•          2 egg yolks
•          About  1/4 cup (50 ml) Bailey’s Irish Cream   ***Exact conversion: {50 ml = 0.21 cup}
•          2 ½ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
•          1/4 tsp salt

 For the filling:

•          4 of 8 oz packs (900 g) cream cheese
•          1 cup (200 g) sugar
•          2 pack vanilla sugar (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)
•          3 TBSP dark cocoa
•          4 oz (113 g) semi-sweet chocolate (melted)
•          1/2 cup (100 ml) heavy cream
•          About ½ cup (100 ml) Bailey’s Irish Cream ***Exact conversion: {100 ml = 0.42 cup}
•          4 eggs (lightly beaten)

For the topping:

•          4 oz (113 g) semi-sweet chocolate (refrigerated and cut into chunks)
•          3.5 oz (100 g) hazelnuts (coarsely chopped)

Also needed:

•          13 X 8 inch (33 X 20 cm) baking pan (or larger)
•          Parchment paper

Preparation:

 

1. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Beat in Bailey’s, egg yolks, flour and salt. Press mixture into the bottom of a 13X8 inch (33X20 cm) baking pan, previously lined with parchment paper. If you desire thinner bars you may want to use a larger pan, but it needs to be at least 2 inches deep. My bars have turned out pretty thick because I’ve used 13X8 inch pan.
2. For the filling beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and cocoa until smooth. Add melted chocolate, cream, Bailey’s and lightly beaten eggs. Pour the mixture over the crust.
3. For the decoration cut chocolate into chunks and coarsely chop hazelnuts, sprinkle all over the top. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for about 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and let it set another 10 minutes inside. Cool completely, cut into bars and serve.

Bailey’s Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

 

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