About a year and a half ago, two of my close friends and I met at the Cheesecake Factory for a dinner date. The three of us hadn’t spent very much time together since high school (if any at all!) because we attended three different universities and lived miles apart, but we finally found a day that worked for all of our busy schedules for a little reunion.
After putting our names on the list with the hostess, we shared plenty of hugs in the restaurant lobby while trading stories and catching up. The other girls filled me in on their new jobs—one worked from home as a computer programmer, the other spent her days in a popular bakery—while we waited for a table.
Once we sat down and glanced at the menu, we continued to talk for the next hour or two while nibbling on bread (is anyone else obsessed with their little honey wheat loaves??) and enjoying bites of our entrées. Conversation flows so easily with those girls, even when months or years have passed by since we last saw each other, and I feel so blessed to have friends like that!
But of course, the real reason we planned our dinner date at the Cheesecake Factory wasn’t for the main course… It was for the dessert! After pouring over that menu to read every description (and strategically taking a quick restroom break to walk past the glass display case at the front of the restaurant!), we settled on something extra chocolaty and decadent. No surprises there!
We slowly savored bites of that rich slice, but the other ladies laid down their forks with a quarter of it left on the plate. While they had both ordered pasta dishes, I planned ahead and opted for a light salad with lots of healthy veggies so I could save plenty of room for dessert! When they both exclaimed they were too full to continue, I happily finished off the rest of the piece.
I started thinking about our girls’ night after driving past the Cheesecake Factory recently, and since we still live in different towns and it’ll probably be a while before we can schedule another one, I decided to bake these Healthy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars to curb my cravings until then. They’re rich and creamy, just like the desserts from the restaurant, but they contain a lot less calories, absolutely no refined flour or sugar, and over 5g of protein!
Pure cheesecake bliss. ♡
HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE BARS
So let’s talk about how to make these healthy chocolate chip cheesecake bars! While traditional recipes use graham cracker crumbs for the crust, you’ll crumble a different ingredient… I know, it’s going to sound incredibly strange, but hang with me for just a second! You’ll use brown rice cereal instead, sweetened with a little powdered stevia and held together with a touch of melted butter and milk.
This is the brown rice cereal that I buy, and you can find it at many health-oriented grocery stores, as well as some larger chains and online. My local Safeway even started stocking a few years ago! I love that their ingredients are completely clean eating friendly, and the cereal has a warm, almost honey-like undertone. Its flavor is perfect for this cheesecake crust!
To make the filling healthier, you’ll use a combination of Greek yogurt and Greek yogurt cream cheese. I also found my Greek yogurt cream cheese at my local Safeway (their own Lucerne brand), and you can also find this brand at many Walmart stores. It gives these bars a lovely cheesecake flavor without the extra calories of regular full-fat cream cheese, and the two ingredients combined pack in a big protein punch!
Tip: If you can’t find Greek yogurt cream cheese, then substitute Neufchâtel (⅓-less fat) cream cheese. It’s often much easier to find in stores!
You’ll sweeten the cheesecake bars with one of my favorite ingredients: liquid stevia. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that’s clean eating friendly, and it’s very concentrated. A little goes a long way! This is the kind that I buy because I love its sweet flavor and notice no strange or bitter aftertastes. You can find it at many health-oriented grocery stores, as well as online. (And you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine, too!)
And of course, the best ingredient of all… The chocolate! (If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m a huge chocoholic… It’s why I wrote my Healthier Chocolate Treats cookbook!) You’ll use mini chocolate chips to ensure every bite contains at least a morsel of chocolate, and these are the kind I prefer because they taste richer and melt better than other brands. And if you’d like, you can finish the cheesecake bars with a little dark chocolate drizzle, too!
Protein-packed, guilt-free, rich and creamy cheesecake bars… Doesn’t that sound like dessert perfection?? And when you bake your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! 🙂 ) I’d love to see your healthy chocolate chip cheesecake bars!
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars | | Print |
- for the crust
- 2 ½ cups (75g) brown rice cereal
- ¾ tsp powdered stevia
- 1 tbsp (14g) unsalted butter, melted
- 5 tbsp (75mL) nonfat milk, room temperature
- for the filling
- 2 cups (480g) plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 (8oz) block Greek yogurt cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg white, room temperature
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsp liquid stevia
- ¼ cup (56g) miniature chocolate chips
- for the drizzle (optional)
- 2 tbsp (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder (measured like this)
- 1 tbsp (15mL) nonfat milk
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- Preheat the oven to 300°F, and lightly coat an 8”-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- To prepare the crust, add the cereal to a food processor or blender, and pulse until the cereal turns into fine crumbs. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in the powdered stevia. Mix in the butter and milk until all of the cereal mixture is completely incorporated. Gently press the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 300°F for 16-19 minutes or until it feels dry to the touch. Cool completely to room temperature.
- To prepare the filling, beat the Greek yogurt and Greek yogurt cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Mix in the egg white, stopping when just incorporated. Mix in the cornstarch until completely incorporated. Mix in the vanilla and liquid stevia, stopping when just incorporated. Fold in 3 ½ tablespoons of chocolate chips
- Spread the filling on top of the cooled crust. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top, and gently press them down into the filling. Bake at 300°F for 30-35 minutes or until the center barely jiggles when the pan is gently shaken. Cool completely to room temperature in the pan before covering with plastic wrap, ensuring that the plastic wrap completely touches the tops of the cheesecake bars. Chill for at least 6 hours before slicing.
- To prepare the drizzle, stir together the cocoa powder, milk, and maple syrup in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to a zip-topped bag, and cut off a tiny piece of one corner. Just before serving the cheesecake bars, drizzle with the chocolate sauce.
BROWN RICE CEREAL NOTES: The brown rice cereal should yield about 1 ⅛ cups of crumbs. This is the brown rice cereal that I use. If you can't find the same brand, then look for ones with a similar ingredients list. Regular rice cereal (ie Rice Krispies) can also be substituted.
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST ALTERNATIVE: For a more traditional cheesecake crust, substitute 1 ⅛ cups of graham cracker crumbs may be substituted instead. Omit the powdered stevia and reduce the milk to 3-4 tablespoons.
POWDERED STEVIA ALTERNATIVES: This is the powdered stevia that I use. Many stevia products and brands have different sweetness levels, so for the best results, I recommend using the same one that I do. Any granulated sweetener may be substituted for the powdered stevia in the crust; you’ll need the equivalent of 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
MILK ALTERNATIVES: Any milk may be substituted for the nonfat milk in the crust and the optional drizzle.
GREEK YOGURT CREAM CHEESE ALTERNATIVES: If you can’t find Greek yogurt cream cheese, substitute Neufchâtel cream cheese (⅓-less fat). Regular full-fat cream cheese and fat-free cream cheese will also work. Just make sure to use brick-style cream cheese (not tub-style!), and make sure it's well softened too.
LIQUID STEVIA NOTES: This is the liquid stevia that I use, and I buy it online here because that's the best price I've found. You'll use it in all of these recipes of mine too! Many stevia products and brands have different sweetness levels, so for the best results, I recommend using the same one that I do.
If you prefer, 4 ½ teaspoons of this powdered stevia may be substituted in place of the liquid stevia. If using the powdered stevia, add it along with the cornstarch. I cannot guarantee whether any other granular sweetener substitutions will work, and I do not recommend using maple syrup, honey, or agave. The amount of liquid stevia is the equivalent of ¾ cup of granulated sugar, and if substituting another granulated sweetener (other than the aforementioned powdered stevia!), the baking time may change.
MAPLE SYRUP ALTERNATIVES: In the optional drizzle, honey or agave may be substituted for the pure maple syrup.
{gluten-free, clean eating, low fat, lower sugar, higher protein}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says...
Oh my gosh these are PERFECT for me because I can’t handle straight-up cheesecake. It’s too rich for my stomach! THESE, however, will be consumed. 🙂
Amy says...
That’s quite a compliment if you’d eat these if your stomach can’t tolerate traditional cheesecake Marina! I wish I could share some directly with you! 🙂
sherri says...
Just what i need require today lol
Question – do you think I could get away with a ‘no fat’ cream cheese or does this recipe need the fat to set up correctly?
Thanks for creating and posting another yummy one Amy!
Amy says...
It sounds like this was meant to be Sherri! 🙂 Yes, nonfat cream cheese will work, as long as it’s been softened before mixing it with the Greek yogurt. The baking time may vary slightly, but the texture should be almost exactly the same. I’d love to hear how the cheesecake bars turn out for you!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says...
Oh my gosh, I am obsessed with the bread at cheesecake factory!! it is so good. EVERYTHING there is so good. These cheesecake bars look perfect Amy! I have never even heard of Greek yogurt cream cheese, I have to find this!!
Amy says...
SO true about everything they serve Karen!! I could totally make a meal out of the free bread alone… No shame! 😉 I found my Greek yogurt cream cheese at Safeway, so hopefully one of the grocery stores near you sells it!
Jessie | Kitschen Cat says...
Oh my goodness gracious these look amazing. So creamy and delicious!!
Amy says...
Thanks Jessie!
Lucy - (Recipes @ Globe Scoffers) says...
I love that these are skinny, they look delicious!
Chara says...
I like the fact that this is healthy. I’m looking at producing this for the weight watchers in Nigeria. I fear I may not find some of the ingredients in the store.
Amy says...
I’m excited to hear what you think of the cheesecake bars Chara! 🙂
Colette says...
Hi, I live in the U.K. And can’t find Greek yogurt cream cheese! What can I use in place? And how much stevia powder would I use in place of stevia drops? Thank xx
Amy says...
I’ve already answered your question about what to substitute for Greek yogurt cream cheese in the Notes section. It can be easy to miss! 😉 As I mentioned on previously, the amount of stevia powder varies with the brand. What’s the exact brand and product that you’re trying to use as a substitute? 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think of these Colette!
Colette says...
It’s truvia thanks x
Amy says...
In my recipes, Truvia is a 1-to-1 sub for granulated sugar. You’ll need 8-10 tablespoons in this recipe, and the baking time may change. For the pound cake, I already included the granulated sugar equivalent in the Notes section, so just use that same amount of Truvia. For the carrot cake frosting, I recommend using the recipe I linked to in the Notes section that doesn’t use stevia. If that doesn’t work for you, then use 6-8 tablespoons of Truvia in place of the stevia, but the texture of the frosting may change. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you think of the treats!
Sue says...
If I substitute granulated sugar in place of the vanilla creme stevia how many minutes do I need to bake the cheesecake for?
Amy says...
I’m honored that you’d like to try my recipe, Sue! You’ll need to bake the cheesecake bars longer with that substitution. Start checking on your pan after 30 minutes, just like the original recipe says. Your cheesecake bars will be done when the center barely jiggles when the pan is gently shaken back and forth. It may take anywhere from 5-20 more minutes, depending on the consistency of the Greek yogurt that you use, as well as from the added volume from the granulated sugar. (Some are thinner and more watery, whereas others are so thick that they’ll completely hold their shape when scooped out of the container with a spoon!). 🙂 I’d love to hear what you think of these cheesecake bars if you try making them!