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Ultimate Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownie Cheesecake Bars

peanut butter pretzel brownie cheesecake bars - featured image
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These bars combine a fudgy brownie base, creamy peanut butter cheesecake layer, and crunchy salty pretzels for a perfect sweet and salty dessert treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup (35g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (120g) creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (100g) pretzels, roughly crushed
  • Optional: 1/4 cup (45g) peanut butter chips or chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 9×9 inch pan or line it with parchment paper with an overhang.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
  3. Sift in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir gently until just combined. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla, mixing until fully combined.
  5. Spoon and spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the brownie batter. Smooth the top gently with a spatula.
  6. Sprinkle crushed pretzels and optional chips evenly over the cheesecake layer. Press lightly to stick but not sink.
  7. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the cheesecake layer is mostly set but slightly jiggly in the center. Check at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking.
  8. Remove from oven and cool completely at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  9. Use parchment overhang to lift bars from pan. Cut into 12 squares and serve. Store leftovers covered in the fridge.

Notes

Use full-fat cream cheese for best texture. Soften cream cheese before mixing to avoid lumps. Do not overmix brownie batter to keep fudgy texture. Check baking at 30 minutes to prevent overbaking. Crushing pretzels to a mix of small chunks and crumbs gives best texture. Bars taste better after chilling overnight. Can substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter for nut-free version. Use gluten-free flour and pretzels for gluten-free adaptation.

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter, pretzel, brownie, cheesecake, dessert bars, easy dessert, sweet and salty, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/ultimate-peanut-butter-pretzel-brownie-cheesecake-bars-recipe-easy-perfect-dessert-bars/