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Chocolate Haystack Cream Cheese Squares

Yield: 24 Bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (200 g) finely ground graham crackers, from about 15 rectangles
  • 3 cups (255 g) finely shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (85 g) milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (113 g) salted butter, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 5 large eggs
  • 12 ounces (340 g) cream cheese, room temperature

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan with at least 2 1/2 - 3-inch high sides (I use an aluminum square cake pan with high sides, if yours is a glass pan with shorter sides, you might try increasing the pan size so the cheesecake doesn't overflow). Line with parchment paper or foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Butter or lightly grease the foil or parchment.
  • Stir together the graham cracker crumbs and 2 cups of the coconut. In a microwave-safe bowl, place both kinds of chocolate, 3 tablespoons sugar and butter. Microwave for one minute at 50% power. Stir. Repeat the process, stirring after each minute, until the chocolate mixture is melted and smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly until lukewarm to the touch. Quickly whisk in one egg.
  • Stir the chocolate mixture into the graham cracker/coconut mixture. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool in pan.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl with an electric or hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar on high speed until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium, and add eggs, 1 at a time, until well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 3 minutes.
  • Pass the cheesecake mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl, and stir until smooth. Pour over cooled crust. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup coconut evenly over the top. Bake for 32-35 minutes, until the top layer is just set and golden brown. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate, loosely covered, overnight.
  • Run a sharp knife around edges of pan, and use parchment or foil handles to lift out the cheesecake. Cut the bars into 1-inch squares. The bars will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator.