Peanut Butter Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Keep reading for the recipe from Averie Cooks (all picture and recipe rights reserved to her!)

INGREDIENTS

Crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
pinch salt, to taste

Cheesecake Filling
1 large egg
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (or any other nut butter or even nutella!), melted for swirling

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and grease/oil with butter or cooking spray.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter (keep an eye on it!) 
3. Add all remaining crust ingredients and mix to combine.
4. Pour into prepared pan and using a spatula, pack mixture firmly into pan as evenly as possible.
5. Combine all filling ingredients except peanut butter, and whisk until smooth and combined,
6. Pour filling over crust.
7. Melt the peanut butter, nutella or favorite nut butter in the microwave. 
8. Drizzle peanut butter over batter to create swirls. 
9. To create the marbled pattern shown, drizzle peanut butter over batter in 5 wide, evenly spaced, parallel lines, each spanning the length of the pan. Rotate pan 90-degrees. Use a toothpick and start at the top of the pan, "draw" 5 evenly spaced lines through the peanut butter. Drag the toothpick perpendicularly through the first set of lines you created to make the marbling.
10. Bake for 35 minutes, or until center is set with very little jiggle. (Some looseness and a very slight jiggle is okay, but there should be not sloshing in the center)
11.  A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Allow bars to cool in pan for about 1 hour before lifting out with foil overhang and slicing
12. Bars will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.