vegan oreo brownie bars recipe
Dairy Free,  Dessert,  Holiday,  Recipe,  Vegan,  Vegetarian

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars (Vegan)

Yup, you read that right, Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars. These are sandwich cookies, cheesecake bars, and brownies all wrapped into one.

This post is all about Vegan Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars

vegan brownie cookie cheesecake bars

How is your life going? Good? Not so good? Well, I hope it’s the former but I’m pretty confidant that either way it’s about to get better.

oreo cheesecake brownie bars

I know, in the past I’ve knocked Oreos and I still haven’t changed my mind about Trader Joe’s brand being better. I just can’t get over the memory of feeling like I was eating burnt cardboard with frosting in the center. Also, they aren’t exactly health food so I figure if it’s not something I’d enjoy eating, what’s the point?

tasty oreo cheesecake cookies

How do you feel about Oreos?

Oreos, jojos, whatever they’re called, I’m personally just not a huge fan. Now, when you use them as an ingredient in something like, say, brownie cheesecake layer cookie bars!, it’s a whole different story. Yeah, that I can do, Yum! If you don’t live near a Trader Joe’s I can understand you might have to use Oreos or any of the knock-off brands. I love Jo-jos most though. This is a recipe idea that I’ve wanted to try for a while, so I had to use them.

vegan cookies and cream cheesecake bars

See, it’s like the difference between wanting to use shortening in a recipe or eating it by itself. When I was really young we used to use shortening in frosting all the time. My grandma was a cake decorator. Of course, that was before I realized how horrible it was. But truth be told, there was a day that it went into all the fluffy stuff for our cakes. I have to say that I’ve never gotten over my feelings of aversion for their false advertising. I’m not sure what the packaging looks like now. Once upon a time my shorter self had the letdown of a lifetime because the visually alluded fried chicken was not in the can. Right there, hopes and dreams crushed forever. Just sayin’. Obviously I haven’t been vegan my entire life.

5 layer brownie cookie cheesecake

Then, as I’m sure many a foolish youngling has discovered in the same way, I found out that the same smooth white stuff did not taste even remotely close to the frosting we put it in. I may be a slow learner in some situations, but let me tell you, that was a mistake I’ve never made again. So gross.

cookies and cream brownies vegan

Let’s talk about these Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars

I decided to go with calling these brownie bars because I felt cookies and cream, brownie, and cookie bars in the same title would be too confusing. In reality though, these bars are somewhere between a cookie and a brownie. I think that’s really completely awesome. They have a softer texture than a cookie but more bite than a brownie. Then they’re stuffed with, not only cheesecake, but chocolate sandwich cookies too! I’d say that’s pretty awesome. I got super close to adding peanut butter too, but then I realized how pretty they’d be if left just black and white. Peanut butter is so happening next time.

how to make cookies and cream brownies

I found this amazing BROWNIE PAN if you’re looking for a foolproof way to cut perfect edges. I really think you just need to try these. If you aren’t a fan of packaged cookies either, than you can just skip the jojos. You can also double the cheesecake layer instead.

This post was all about Vegan Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars

vegan oreo brownie bars recipe
Print

Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownie Bars (Vegan)

Cookies and cream cheesecake isn't anything new, but made into these decadent bars it might just become your new favorite!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 24 bars

Ingredients

Brownie Bar:

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup applesauce or pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream *see note
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup mini dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips optional

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup vegan "cream cheese", softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup arrowroot starch (or cornstarch)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup coconut cream *see note
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 30 - 40 chocolate cream filled sandwich cookies I used jojos

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C) and grease a 13x9 inch glass pan. Mix coconut oil, oil, and sugar together in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with beater. Scrape sides of bowl, then add applesauce and coconut cream and mix until combined. Add vanilla, baking powder, salt, and cocoa until mixed well, then add flour one cup at a time and beat just until combined after each addition. If using, add the chocolate chips and fold in to combine.

  2. Scrape out mixer bowl into a medium bowl and save mixer bowl for making cheesecake layer. (Yay, for less dishes to wash) Divide dough in half and press one half into prepared pan. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until top starts to darken and looks somewhat dry; remove from oven and cool while you make cheesecake filling.

  3. Beat "cream cheese" in mixing bowl with whisk attachment until completely smooth and lump free, scrape bottom of bowl and mix longer to be sure it's all smooth. Add sugar and starch and mix until creamed, then beat in lemon juice, coconut cream, baking powder, vanilla, and salt; mix until combined.

  4. Lay Jojos (or oreos) in a single layer on top of the cooled cookie layer. (You can leave a few small gaps in between any odd corners.) Pour cheesecake filling over cookie layer and crumble remaining half of chocolate dough over top. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the center of bars is lightly browned on top. Remove and cool for about 30 minutes then place pan in fridge and chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Cut into squares and serve chilled.

Recipe Notes

*If you have trouble finding coconut cream at your local grocery store it's completely fine to use full-fat coconut milk and scrape the cream off of the top. Just be sure that it's cold enough to separate.

Here are some other posts you may enjoy:

Fudgy Peanut Butter Protein Brownies (Vegan)

Reese Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion Cookie Bars (Vegan)

“Reese’s” Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion Cookie Bars (Vegan)


vegan oreo brownie bars recipe


25 Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.