"Elastic Waistband Friendly"

One of my favorite bloggers, Jessica at The Novice Chef, has a category of recipes on her blog called "Ass Friendly" {meaning healthy or low calorie, in case you didn't pick up on that}. It's one of the many reasons why I love reading her stuff. {Plus, I'm pretty sure she likes wine as much as I do. Which is a lot. Instant bond.}

Anyway, if Jessica's healthy recipes are considered "Ass Friendly", then the recipe I'm about to share with you would be part of the polar opposite category we'll call "Ass Hostile". Except that sounds absolutely terrible and a bit like an adjective that would be used to describe a horrible virus you might get if you don't wash your hands. So, let's go with "Elastic Waistband Friendly" instead. In short, this is to be enjoyed in moderation.

No, friends. This is not one serving.

Remember that Nutella Caramel Sauce I posted a few days ago? Well, I had a lot left over. And since I know I am not to be trusted with large quantities of anything even remotely related to Nutella, I had to find a way to use it up fast.

And so, Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars were born.

These little babies are rich. Buttery. Sweet. They are unassumingly dangerous. And one too many will bring the elastic waistband pants out of their drawer. So share. {Even though you won't want to.}

They've got a brown sugar shortbread crust, a not-too-thin, not-too-thick layer of cheesecake, and of course... a seductive swirl of Nutella Caramel running throughout.

Good stuff. And by good, I mean bad. Very, very bad.

So, get some Ass Friendly recipes from Jessica's blog, and then come back here when you want to treat yourself for all the healthy eating you've done. These bars will be waiting. ;)


Nutella Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars
a Kitchen Prep original recipe

For Nutella Caramel Sauce

• Click here for recipe

For crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 sticks butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer or a medium bowl, combine sugar and flour. Using paddle attachment, or with a pastry blender or fork by hand, incorporate pieces of butter until the mixture is crumbly. {Will hold it's shape when a clump is pinched.}

Press mixture evenly into foil lined baking pan.

Bake for 15 minutes until crust is slightly golden. Set aside.

For cheesecake:

• 1 - 8oz. block cream cheese {you can use reduced fat if you're already feeling guilty}
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt {once again, trying to healthy up the unhealthy}

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar until fluffy and incorporated. Add egg, and beat until combined. Add vanilla and Greek yogurt and mix until smooth.

Pour into crust.

Spoon globs of Nutella Caramel sauce onto cheesecake batter, dotting throughout the mixture. With a skewer, toothpick, or tip of a knife, carefully swirl caramel throughout cheesecake to create marbleized effect.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until filling is mostly set {not super jiggly}. If caramel is cooking too rapidly or becoming too bubbly, cover lightly with a sheet of aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes.

Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate and let cool completely before cutting into bars.

PINtervention

How many of you have become hopelessly obsessed with Pinterest? {Raising hand}

C'mon... don't be shy. You can come clean, there are no secrets here. {At this point, you've got to have plenty of dirt on me, so we're even.} ;)

For those of you that haven't yet discovered Pinterest {or are still on the "waiting list"... what's that all about??}, I'll tell you a little about it. Pinterest is a site where you can can keep a visual collection of ideas, pictures, and bookmarks on categorized "Boards", just like you might keep a bulletin board or vision board at home. The only problem with it seems to be that once you sit down and start browsing Pinterest, it's nearly impossible to pry yourself away.

It happens without warning. Starts out with a few innocent clicks and leads to digital idea hoarding. Because, you know, you might actually find the time to brilliantly repurpose every single empty container in your house and find the perfect scrap pieces of wood to build yourself a custom table/cabinet/shelving unit/headboard.

The worst part about Pinterest? You spend so much time finding GREAT ideas that you don't ever get up from behind the computer screen long enough to try them out. And then you feel guilty. Which makes you spend some more time clicking around trying to find pretty things to make yourself feel better.

It's a vicious cycle, folks. One that leads to trips to Home Depot, a longer "Honey Do" list, and more Nutella recipes in your life. {Which isn't necessarily a bad thing...}

You've been warned.

Anyway, now that I've thoroughly forewarned you about getting sucked into the madness, I must share with you a recipe that I found and actually made. It was love at first pin.

Chubby Hubby Bars

If you love the ice cream version of this stuff, you will want to marry the bar version. {Ha, and it has the word "hubby" in it! So clever.}

I adapted the recipe I found on Pinterest just a bit because I wanted to include some homemade Peanut Butter Caramel I had seen on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay.



I also added a little malted milk powder into the cookie dough {which also happens to contain semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped up pretzel pieces... yum} to mimic the Vanilla Malt Ice Cream that all the Chubby Hubby goodness comes swirled into. 

I have a feeling finds like these are only going to make my Pinterest addiction worse... but this is definitely a recipe you'll want to "repin"!

*You can follow me AND my addiction on Pinterest by clicking here.

Chubby Hubby Bars
Adapted from a recipe found Cookies & Cups through Pinterest


For the Peanut Butter Caramel
From Food Network


1/4 white sugar
1/4 water
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon corn syrup
Pinch of salt


1. Heat heavy cream in microwave or in a small saucepan until steaming {not boiling}.
2. In a small saucepan, heat sugar and water on high heat without stirring until it boils. Allow syrup to turn a light amber color. Keep an eye on this as it can burn very easily.
3. Carefully {it will bubble & boil} add heated heavy cream and whisk. Allow to cook for another 30 seconds to a minute.
4. Remove from heat and wisk in peanut butter, vanilla, corn syrup, and salt until smooth.
5. Pour into a heat safe bowl and set aside to cool.


For The Cookie Base:
2 sticks softened butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup malted milk powder {I used Carnation Malted Milk Powder}
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
Approx. 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Approx. 1 1/2 cups salted pretzels, coarsely chopped
Pretzels for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9×13 pan lightly with cooking spray.
2. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla, mix until incorporated.
4. On low speed add in salt, baking soda, malted milk powder, and flour a little at a time, mixing until just incorporated.
5. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in approx. 1 cup of the chocolate chips and pretzel pieces by hand, as not to break up the pieces too small.
6. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Let cool completely.
7. When cooled pour peanut butter caramel over the bars and spread evenly.
8. Chill in fridge for 15 minutes to set caramel.
9. On the stovetop or in a microwave safe measuring cup, heat 1/4 cup cream until steaming, and while hot, pour over approx. 1 cup chocolate chips in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and chocolate is completely melted. Carefully spread chocolate over set caramel. While still wet, add pretzels for garnish if desired.
10. Put back in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until chocolate is set.
11. Cut into squares when ready to serve.