Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Preheating the oven is crucial as it ensures the sugar cookie dough bakes evenly and at the right temperature. This also saves time, as it allows your oven to reach the ideal baking temperature while you’re preparing the other ingredients.

Step 2: Prepare Your Baking Dish
Next, prepare your 8×8-inch square baking dish by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. This ensures that your bars won’t stick to the pan, making them easy to remove and cut into perfect squares once they’re done baking. If you prefer, you can line the dish with parchment paper for added ease of removal, though this step is entirely optional.

Step 3: Mix the Cheesecake Filling
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and egg. Using an electric hand mixer, mix on low speed until the ingredients are well combined and smooth. You can also use a whisk if you don’t have a mixer, but the hand mixer makes this step quicker and ensures a creamy texture. Here’s a helpful tip: If your cream cheese is too cold and lumpy, don’t worry! Simply follow the tip above of warming the cream cheese in hot water to achieve a smoother texture. If you prefer a sweeter filling, you can also add powdered sugar at this stage, but it’s optional. The filling should be creamy and smooth once mixed.

Step 4: Prepare the Sugar Cookie Dough Crust
Cut the sugar cookie dough in half. This will be used to create the crust at the bottom of the baking dish. Press one half of the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Use your fingers or a spatula to smooth it out, ensuring it’s an even layer. The dough will spread slightly while baking, so it’s important to get the crust even before putting it in the oven.

Step 5: Add the Cheesecake Filling
Once the crust is in place, pour the prepared cheesecake filling over the dough. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across the crust, making sure it covers all the edges and creates a smooth surface. You want the cheesecake filling to fill the space completely, with no gaps or areas where the crust is visible.

Step 6: Add the Top Layer of Cookie Dough
Now, take the remaining half of the sugar cookie dough and create flattened “chunks” or small dollops of dough. Place these evenly over the top of the cheesecake filling. The dough will spread and bake into a golden crust during cooking, so don’t worry if the dough chunks aren’t perfectly placed. This step gives the bars that signature cookie topping that makes them so irresistible.

Step 7: Bake the Bars
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the sugar cookie dough is golden brown. Keep a close eye on it to prevent the sugar cookie from burning—sugar cookies tend to brown quickly. When the dough reaches a golden color and the cheesecake filling is set, remove the dish from the oven. You may notice that the cheesecake will jiggle slightly when you gently shake the dish. This is normal, and it will firm up as it cools.

Step 8: Cool and Garnish
Allow the bars to cool for at least one hour at room temperature. If you can, let them cool completely before cutting into squares. Garnish with sprinkles or a light dusting of powdered sugar for a touch of sweetness and decoration. These finishing touches not only enhance the flavor but also make your bars look beautiful when served.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy
Once the bars are cool, cut them into squares using a sharp knife. Serve them at room temperature or chilled, depending on your preference. These bars can be enjoyed by themselves, or you can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.