Prep: 30 mins | Bake: 45 mins + chilling | Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients:

8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

Cheesecake layer:

2 pkg. (8oz. each) cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

3/4 cup 2% milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9″-square baking pan with foil, letting ends extend uip and over sides; grease foil.
  2. Reserve 1.4 cup crumbled bacon for top. In a bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt and bakings soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and remaining bacon. Press half of the dough onto bottom of the pan.
  3. In a bowl, beatm cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla and milk, beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over dough; drop remaining dough by tablespoonfuls over cheesecake layer. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.
  4. Bake 45-50 mins or until golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before cutting. Lifting with foil, remove from pan. Cut into bars.