Minty Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars Food

MINTY CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, butter, extracts and 2 eggs until blended. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup baking chips., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add remaining eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over chocolate layer, spreading evenly; sprinkle with remaining baking chips., Bake 30-35 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick spray and line with foil.
• Pulse the cookies in a food processor with the butter, sugar, and salt to make a fine crust. Evenly press the crust into the prepared pan taking care to cover the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
• Blend the cream cheese, 2/3 cup of the sugar, and 1/2 cup of the sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and melted chocolate then pulse until just incorporated and smooth. Pour the filling evenly over the crust and bake until the filling puffs slightly around the edges and just set in the center, about 20 minutes.
• Mix the remaining cup of sour cream and 2/3 cup sugar with the creme de menthe and food coloring, if using. Carefully, spoon the mixture over the top of the chocolate and gently spread into an even layer. Bake until topping becomes glossy but is still a bit loose, about 15 minutes more. (The topping will set when cooled.) Cool on a rack. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Lift cheesecake out of the pan, cut into 2-inch squares, and top with chocolate curls.

CHOCOLATE-FROSTED MINT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening; lightly flour. In small bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with spoon until smooth. Stir in 1 egg, the mint extract and food color until well mixed; set aside.
• In 3-quart saucepan, melt 1 cup butter and 4 oz chocolate over very low heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Cool 15 minutes or until slightly cooled.
• Stir 2 cups sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla into chocolate mixture. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Stir in flour. Spread in pan. Carefully spoon cream cheese mixture over brownie mixture. Lightly swirl cream cheese mixture into brownie mixture with knife for marbled design.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes at room temperature. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons butter, the corn syrup and water to rolling boil, stirring frequently; remove from heat. Stir in 2 oz chocolate until melted. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and the powdered sugar. Beat with spoon until smooth. Frost chilled bars with Chocolate Frosting. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CREAM CHEESE MINTS

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, sugar and extract with mixer until blended. Roll into 30 balls, using about 1 Tbsp. for each. Place on parchment-covered baking sheet; flatten slightly.
• Freeze 10 min. or until firm.
• Melt chocolate as directed on package. Dip mints, 1 at a time, in chocolate, turning to evenly coat both sides of each mint; return to baking sheet. Top with sprinkles. Let stand 3 hours or until firm.

CHOCOLATE-MINT CREAM CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Coat a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray.
• Crust; Pulse cookies in food processor to make fine crumbs.
• Add butter, process to blend.
• Press on bottom and sides of pie plate.
• Refrigerate to firm.
• Heat chips and 1/2 cup heavy cream just to a simmer.
• Let stand 1 minute.
• Stir until smooth.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and mint extract with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Beat remaining cream until soft peaks form.
• Fold 1/2 into cream cheese mixture and 1/2 into chocolate.
• Spread 1/2 the cream cheese mixture evenly on bottom of crust; top with 1/2 the chocolate.
• If necessary place pie in freezer 8 to 10 minutes to firm before proceeding.
• Spread with rest of cream cheese mixture; swirl on rest of chocolate.
• Refrigerate at least 6 hours until firm.

FUDGY MINT SQUARES

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt 8 tablespoons butter and unsweetened chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a small bowl, beat 2 eggs, sugar and vanilla. Beat in chocolate mixture until blended. Gradually stir in flour. , Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until top is set. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining butter until fluffy. Add cornstarch; beat until smooth. Gradually beat in milk and remaining egg. Beat in extract and food coloring if desired. , Pour over crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack., In a small heavy saucepan, combine chocolate chips and cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until chips are melted. Cool for 30 minutes or until lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill for 2 hours or until set before cutting.

ST. PATRICK'S CHOCOLATE & MINT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Beat cake mix and butter with an electric mixer on low speed in a bowl until crumbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside 1 cup for topping.
• Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• Place in preheated oven and bake until edges begin to crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• Beat cream cheese and frosting with an electric mixer on medium speed in a bowl until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Drop eggs one at a time into the cream cheese mixture and beat until blended, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour in 6 drops green food coloring, or more for a darker color; beat until color is blended, about 2 minutes.
• Beat in creme de menthe candy flavoring until thoroughly blended, about 2 minutes. Taste and add more flavoring if needed.
• Pour batter over the chocolate crust in the 9x13 pan.
• Sprinkle 1 cup reserved crumb mixture over cheesecake batter.
• Top with 1 cup chocolate and mint morsels; reserve remaining morsels for finishing touches.
• Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake until set, 42 to 45 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and cool completely.
• Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Pour reserved chocolate and mint morsels into a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave morsels in 45 second intervals; stir until completely melted and smooth.
• Pour melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag.
• Clip a small bottom corner of the bag. Gently squeezing the bag, drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cake through the clipped corner.
• Cut cake into bars to serve.

EASY GRASSHOPPER BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, stir all Bar ingredients until soft dough forms. Press into pan; bake 15 minutes. Cool about 10 minutes.
• In large bowl, stir all Frosting ingredients until smooth. Spread over bars.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave all Glaze ingredients on High 30 seconds; stir until smooth. Drizzle over frosting. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.