the anniversary cheesecake ~ heath bar cookie dough

For the past 10 years or so, I have made Clay a fabulous cheesecake as an anniversary dinner dessert. This year’s takes the, well, takes the cheesecake! Adapted from Mel’s recipe, here is this year’s deliciousness.  Trust me, it is fabulous!

 

Heath Bar Cookie Dough Cheesecake

 

Cookie dough:

½ cup softened butter

½ cup sugar

½ cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

2 TBS milk (I used half and half)

1 TBS vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup toffee bits (or chopped Heath Bar) (will need 1 more cup for batter and more for garnish.)

Mix together and roll into small balls, about 1” in diameter.  Arrange on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place in freezer for half an hour or so. At this point you will want to put on an episode of Downton Abbey, make a pot of tea, and start downing these babies. Try to resist.)

 

Crust

20 graham cracker squares, ground in food processor or smooshed into fine crumbs.

¼ cup melted butter

Mix together and press into bottom of spring form pan.

 

Cheesecake batter:

4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

1 TBS vanilla

1 cup sour cream

Cream together cream cheese and sugar; add one egg at a time, beating until fluffy.  Add flour, sour cream, and vanilla.

 

To assemble:

Pour half of cheesecake batter in pan on top of crust.  (Note: I do not bake my crust separately first because I think it tastes burnt.)

Fold in all the cookie dough balls and 1 more cup of toffee bits into the remaining batter and spread on top of batter in pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.  Turn off oven and prop open door with a wooden spoon, allowing cheesecake to cool down in oven for about 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool completely.  Chill in fridge for several hours (overnight is better) and remove from pan when ready to serve by running a sharp knife around outside of pan before unlatching. Top each slice with more toffee bits and prepare to have rose petals and maybe money thrown at your feet. It is seriously that awesomely delicious!  Makes 12 servings.