Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350; grease a 13x9 pan; set aside.
• 2 in a mixing bowl, combine shortening and sugars; add egg and vanilla.
• 3 combine dry ingredients (not chips or pecans), add to creamed mixture; fold in chips and nuts.
• 4 set aside one-third of dough (topping); press remaining dough into pan; bake for 8 minutes.
• 5 meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth; add eggs and vanilla until creamy; spoon over crust.
• 6 drop teaspoons of reserved dough over filling (nicely spaced, please).
• 7 bake for 35-40 minutes (lightly golden brown).
• 8 cool on wire rack.
• 9 cover and store in fridge.