Latte Cheesecake Bars

These is a terrific dessert bar recipe that I found in the Chicago Sun-Times, originally from a holiday baking brochure put out by Land O'Lakes.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 5 mins
• Yields: 36 bars

Ingredients

• Crust

• 2  cups  chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1⁄2 cup butter, melted

• Filling

• 2  tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 2  teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 3  eggs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla

• Topping

• 1⁄3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1⁄2 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Crust: combine cookie crumbs and melted butter and mix well; press into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. Filling: combine whipping cream and coffee granules and let stand for 5 minutes, or until coffee dissolves.
3. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat, scraping the bowl often, until creamy, about 1 minute; add reserved coffee mixture, eggs and vanilla; beat, scraping often, just until combined; pour over reserved crust and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes, or until center is nearly set; remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for one hour.
4. Topping: Place whipping cream in a small saucepan and heat over medium just until it comes to a boil, about one minute; remove from heat and add chocolate chips, stirring until melted; spread over cheesecake and refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 1 hour.