M&M Cheesecake Squares

Cookies and cheesecake combine to make this 3 layer bar and little fun-size M&M candies are added to give them a lot color! I’ve made plenty of cheesecake and cookies in my life and it was about time I started to combine the two. You can combine a lot of desserts into a bar and I just love this because the possibilities are endless!

If you’re wondering what else can be used instead of M&M candies check the ideas I have down below for substitutions. I also have other bars and dessert recipes listed below as well if you are looking for lightened up dessert recipes.

How is this WW Friendly?

FYI: Dessert recipes are hard to make lower in points because of the butter, sugar, and flour. I know from past experience that any recipe that contains these ingredients tends to get a bad wrap if the word Weight Watchers is slapped on the title of the recipe. Ha! That is why I just have the points listed out below in case you’re curious.

Grocery List

Here is the basic rundown of what is needed for this dish. I’ve also included substitutes that can be used if you do not have any of these items. 

Cream Cheese, eggs, and sugar are the typical ingredients used that make up the base of a cheesecake.  Sugar substitutes can be used just make sure to look up the conversions for that based on regular sugar. 

Flour, sugar, and butter – Make up the base for the cookie layer. 

M&M candies  – Instead of M&M’s, so many other things would work for these bars. Crushed up Oreo cookies, any type of chocolate candy bar (chopped up into bite size pieces), chocolate chips, sprinkles, Reese’s pieces, you name it! Reese’s peanut butter cups would be so good in these. 

How to make M&M Cheesecake Squares

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Make the Crust:  Beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour; mix well. If the dough is still looking dry add cold water a little bit at a time until the dough starts to form. 

Reserve 1/4 cup of the crumb mixture and set aside; then press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 in a square pan. Bake the bottom layer 10 minutes.

Make Cream Cheese Layer: Combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla; using an electric mixer, mix at medium speed until well blended.

Add the egg; mix well.

Combine the layers: Layer 1/2 of the M&M candies over the bottom cookie crust; top with the cream cheese mixture. Combine the remaining candy and reserved crumb mixture; mix well. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Let cool completely before serving.

Other Recipes You Might Like 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Rice Krispie Bars

Sugar-Free Strawberry Sauce

Healthy Lemon Bars

Orange Fluff

Oreo Fluff

*If you make this recipe please comment and rate the recipe below to let everyone know how it is, or tag me on Instagram! If you want to upload a photo you can do that on Pinterest. Just find the post for it. 

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