Choclate Mint Cheesecake Bars

 What are the best things to have in March or on St.Patrick's day? Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Bars! There the best to have for your elementary kids or pre-school students. I love making these I used to make them for my Aunt when she was in the hospital. Now, we make them all the time together. When you make these with someone you love it oppens up something new between the two of you.

 

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely crushed creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening
• 14 creme de menthe thin candies, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 9-inch baking pan. Bake 6 minutes. Cool.
2. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk, eggs and peppermint extract until smooth. Pour over cooled cookie base and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes; chill.
3. Just before serving, in heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Drizzle over top of chilled cheesecake bars. Sprinkle chopped chocolate mint candies over the top. Cut into bars. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.