Culinary Do-over: Light Cookies n’ Cream Cheesecake Squares Recipe

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What’s that you say? ANOTHER post for today? I just had so much to share, there could be no other way! (It’s Friday night, forgive me please). So hi again! I hope you’ve already entered to win some great loot from Subway, including some fresh avocados here on this giveaway! Oh and check out the interview with the MAN himself, Chef Robert Irvine! and send him a little tweet saying ya did, alright?

This post has little to do with avocados. Actually, nothing really. And, it’s not the world’s BEST thing for you ever. But guess what, we all need a little oreo fudge cheesecake squares every once in a while. I mean, I’m REALISTIC after all, right?

I mean, look at them? Don’t you agree? Now, the reason for making these is simple. Last year, I tried and I failed. MISERABLY. Oh and Foodbuzz chose me, along with other tastemakers, to participate in their Frigidaire culinary do-over challenge! I knew now was the time to remake these bars.

I mean look at this miserable, pathetic, goopey mess. I mean, it’s heartbreaking right? Compare it to THIS.

It’s like night and day, right friends? Well, there are a few reasons as to why this try worked and that try didn’t. For one, I let them chill longer. The first recipe I chilled for maybe an hour and a half before I dug into them. Hence, the runny mess. Secondly, I sort of adapted the recipe and referenced another one from my lovely friend Table for Two. This reduced the eggs  and added another thickening agent, some 2% Chobani!

I’m SO pleased with the turnout. You know, I’m sort of a raving stark mad lunatic perfectionist when it comes to my recipes. I don’t take recipe fails lightly. As you’ll read here, I take it as a blow to me. So, now that I’m being challenged to make these into something edible and beautiful, you best believe I’m going to grab that symbolic bull by it’s horns and TACKLE IT.

And I did it! Another edit I made to both recipes was I subbed in lighter ingredients to make this a little less guilty of an indulgence. I used light cream cheese, 2% yogurt instead of sour cream and used 1/4 of the number of Oreos. It’s still not something you can eat 20 of (unlike these healthy PB jelly bars) but it’s a treat you can enjoy without feeling bad about it.

And really, isn’t that what life is all about, anyway? Plus, you can’t go wrong with a dessert made from Oreos that only has 5 Weight Watchers points per square.

Lighter Cookies N’ Cream Cheesecake Squares

Yields about 14 bars.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: About 50 minutes
Recipe adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod & Table for Two.

Ingredients: 

For the crust:

  • 18 Oreo cookies
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted melted butter

For the filling:

  • 1 1/2 8 ounce packages of light cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup 2% Chobani
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • Dash of salt
  • 6 – 8 Oreos, chopped finely

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper with a bit of overhang so you can easily remove the bars.
  2. To make the crust, place Oreos in a food processor and pulse until crumbly. (Will resemble sand). Add in applesauce and butter. Pulse again until mixture is moistened. Using a spatula, press the crust mixture into the parchment paper, being sure to reach the corners. Bake for about 10 – 12 minutes, or until crust hardens a bit. Set aside.
  3. To prepare filling, add cream cheese and yogurt to a large mixing bowl. Beat on high or until mixture is creamy. Slowly beat in sugar, egg and vanilla. Add salt and beat until mixture is combined. Using a wooden spoon, stir in 3/4 of the oreo cookie mixture. Pour filling over the crust, using another spatula to spread and cover the crust completely.
  4. Sprinkle with remaining Oreos and bake for about 35 0 42 minutes, or until firm. Immediately chill for at least 3 – 4 hours. Cut bars, serve and enjoy!

Nutritional information per bar:

Calories: 180
Fat: 10.1 grams
Carbohydrates: 18.7 grams
Fiber: 1 gram
Protein: 5.14 grams
Weight Watchers points: 5

This post was sponsored by Frigidaire. When you share your own do-over moment on Facebook.com/Frigidaire, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children’s U.S. Programs. Plus, Frigidaire will help cover the costs for one lucky visitor to win the ultimate do-over.  

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Comments

  1. Posted by Dinnersdishesdessert on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    Amazing!!  Cookies & Cream anything is always a hit!  And these have less calories!  Great do over!
  2. Posted by Dinnersdishesdessert on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    Amazing!!  Cookies & Cream anything is always a hit!  And these have less calories!  Great do over!
  3. Posted by Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    These are so great! And yay for less calories!
  4. Posted by Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    These are so great! And yay for less calories!
  5. Friday, June 15th, 2012
    These do look gorgeous! Nice substitutions to make this healthier. Any suggestions on other cookies besides Oreos to use? Maybe one without HFCS? 
    • Posted by Claire Gallam10 on
      Friday, June 15th, 2012
      I think any chocolate cookie would work!!
  6. Friday, June 15th, 2012
    These do look gorgeous! Nice substitutions to make this healthier. Any suggestions on other cookies besides Oreos to use? Maybe one without HFCS? 
    • Posted by Claire Gallam10 on
      Friday, June 15th, 2012
      I think any chocolate cookie would work!!
    • Posted by LauriesCravings on
      Saturday, June 16th, 2012
      Nature's Path makes HFCS-free "oreo" cookies... they are my go-to cookies n cream cookie. 
      • Monday, June 18th, 2012
        Nice! Thanks! Yeah, when it comes to store-bought desserts/sweets the only things I can ever find without HFCS are organic.
  7. Posted by amy donovan on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    they look tasty! yay for a successful do-over recipe!
  8. Posted by amy donovan on
    Friday, June 15th, 2012
    they look tasty! yay for a successful do-over recipe!
  9. Posted by Applesauce on
    Saturday, June 16th, 2012
    Hi, is there anything we can replace the apple sauce with?
    • Posted by Claire Gallam10 on
      Sunday, June 17th, 2012
      Butter!
  10. Posted by LauriesCravings on
    Saturday, June 16th, 2012
    These look lovely! They do look better but I'm sure the other ones tasted amazing :) Thanks for sharing. 
  11. Posted by Ally on
    Saturday, June 16th, 2012
    Seriously drooling at the sight of such perfection!
    xo
    http://allykayler.blogspot.ca/
    • Posted by claire on
      Monday, June 18th, 2012
      Awwww thanks!
  12. Posted by Baking Serendipity on
    Sunday, June 17th, 2012
    I'm a definite perfectionist too...and I love these! Anytime you can make Oreo desserts lighter, I'm totally in.
  13. Posted by Marina Delio on
    Sunday, June 17th, 2012
    Okay I've been thinking about these ever since I saw you post them on Instagram ;) Amazingly yummy. I have an Oreo obsession  - they just can't be beat.
    • Posted by claire on
      Monday, June 18th, 2012
      Ah, me too! It's such a problem!
  14. Posted by Baker Street on
    Monday, June 18th, 2012
    These are my favorite kind of bars. I've made these before but I have to try out your lighter version. :) 
    • Posted by claire on
      Monday, June 18th, 2012
      Please do! :)
  15. Posted by BBQ Recipes on
    Monday, June 18th, 2012
    What a great looking dessert! I can just picture see these in an upscale bakery window, yum! I'll have to give them a try this summer when a creative dish is needed at a BBQ.
    • Posted by claire on
      Monday, June 18th, 2012
      You should! they are amazing!
  16. Posted by Nel Lyl on
    Tuesday, June 19th, 2012
    hi may i know what does 1 1/2 8ounce of cream cheese means? does it mean 8ounce+4ounce=12ounce?
    thanks in advance!
  17. Posted by JensFavoriteCookies on
    Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
    Fantastic recipe!  (As if I needed another reason to buy Chobani!)  Love this!  I think I will link to it this week.
  18. Posted by Anamika on
    Thursday, June 21st, 2012
    Hey!! I just saw this picture on Foodgawker and couldn’t stop appreciating the clicks!! The recipe sounds delish and too perfect a real treat!!!
  19. Posted by GrandeLatte on
    Friday, December 26th, 2014
    This is a great recipe. Low calories too! I'm a terrible cook, I can't even bake cookies properly, but once I followed your instructions, I was able to replicate this dessert.

    Now, rather than sprinkling crushed Oreos on top, I add a chocolate ganache. Fancy, eh?

    Thanks a lot! =)