Ode to Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Bars

Stephanie A. you're the-BOMB!  

Steph graced our house yesterday with the most divine dessert bars I have EVER had.  They are so unbelievably scrumptious I HAD to share the recipe!  Watch out you WONT want to SHARE them! :)

Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Bars

2 cups finely crushed creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs (about 24 cookies)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

2 eggs

1 Tbsp. peppermint extract

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate because that's what we had!)

1 package chocolate mint candies, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 325*  In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter; mix well.  Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13x9 baking pan.  Bake 6 min.  Cool.

2.  In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and peppermint extract until smooth.  Pour over cooled cookie base and bake for 25 to 30 min.  Cool completely.

3.  In heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and drizzle over the top of the bars.  Sprinkle chopped chocolate mint candies over the top.  Cut into bars.  Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Makes:  1 1/2 to 2 dozen bars.

Enjoy every bite!