Chocolate-Cream Cheese-Peanut Butter Bars

PREP: 50 mins
TOTAL TIME: 2 hours and 15 mins
SERVING: 36 Bars

Cookie Base and Topping:

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 egg

Filling:

1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup of butter or margarine
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream

1) Heat oven to 350F. Spray bottom only of 13 x 9 in pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir cookie base and topping ingredients until soft dough forms. Shape 6 (1 in) balls of dough. On an ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 2 inches apart; flatten in crisscross pattern with fork.

2) Press remaining dough in pan. Bake cookies and base 10 to 12 mins or until edges are light and golden brown. Cool 10 mins. Reserve cookies for topping.

3) In a small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter uncovered on high for 1 min to 1 min and 30 secs, stirring every 30 secs, until melted and stirred smooth. Spread evenly over bars. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 mins.

4) In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and whipping cream with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed about 2 mins or until light and fluffy. Spread over chocolate layer.

5) Crush reserve cookies; sprinkle over cream cheese layer. Press in lightly. Refrigerate until set, about 30 mins. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered In refrigerator.