Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA CHEESECAKE BARS

Category: Bars

Crust:
1 3/4 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped, roasted, salted macadamia nuts
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

Filling: 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cups finely chopped, roasted, salted macadamia nuts, divided

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a 13 by 9-inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, letting the edges of the foil extend over the sides of the pan.

For the crust: In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, nuts, brown sugar, and butter. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

For the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the sour cream. Pour over the crust. Sprinkle with chocolate morsels. Bake until set, 40 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup nuts. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars to serve. Store in the refrigerator.