Players are lined up and ready for the big game. Each one brings their talents to make a winning team. Flour, sugar, and cocoa are called in first to get the foundation play started. Butter cuts in to pull them together for a strong base. Heat solidifies the first play and it's time for the next. Cream cheese and condensed milk make a beater play and call in eggs and vanilla for assistance. They cover the foundation however leave an open end. It's back in the hands of flour's special team and pecans are brought into the mix. The field is covered and more heat brings the victory. Chocolate Streusel Bars are a clear winner for any occasion.
Cooking and baking are my sports. Not the kind of competition on television shows, it is more of a fun game of constantly improving and learning new things. It's the thrill of victory when I make a new dish that a selective eater thoroughly enjoys. It's discovering new techniques like rubbing citrus zest into sugar to bring out the flavor as I did with a tangerine yogurt cake. (I definitely scored on that one). It's also making something my friends enjoy eating while watching sports.
Chocolate Streusel Bars are a great game day treat. A chocolate crust is covered with a layer of sweetened cream cheese and topped with more chocolate in the form of pecan streusel. They are creamy, nutty, chocolate-y bars of deliciousness.
Are you looking for super eats for game day? The Sunday Supper contributors have you covered! Scroll down to find a list and links to recipes for entertaining on game day or any occasion. Big thanks to Heather of Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks for hosting the event.
Chocolate Streusel Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar sifted
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter diced
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a knife blade. Pulse to combine.
- Add the diced butter. Pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs (mixture will be dry).
- Reserve 2 cups of the crumb mixture in a bowl to be used for the topping.
- Pour the remaining crumb mixture into a 9- X 13-inch baking pan, spread evenly, and firmly press down.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes.
- Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk, egg, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour over warm baked crust.
- Stir pecans into the reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle evenly over cream cheese mixture.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake 25 minutes or until bubbly.
- Cool completely on a wire rack then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Slice into bars or squares. Store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
Game Day Appetizers:
- Honey Mustard Pretzel Crunch from Shockingly Delicious
- Salt and Vinegar Chicken Wings from Casa de Crews
- Saucy Wings and Thighs from Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos
- Macaroni and Cheese Spring Rolls from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
- Western-Style Steak Rolls from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Alpine Sliders from Manu's Menu
- Hellfire Wings from Yours and Mine Are Ours
- Easy Nacho Bar from Momma's Meals
- Jalapeno Popper Taquitos from Curious Cuisiniere
- Skinny Game Day Guacamole Potato Skins from Daily Dish Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Cups from Alida's Kitchen
- Spinach-Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers from La Cocina de Leslie
- BBQ Veggie Mini Burgers from Happy Baking Days
- Spicy Roasted Corn Shrimp Dip from Food Lust People Love
- Honey-Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket from Hip Foodie Mom
- Beer Cheese Fondue from Melanie Makes
- Cheesy Artichoke and Garlic Bread from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Whole Wheat Pepperoni Pizza Bites from Meal Planning Magic
- Personal Chili Pots from MealDiva
- Italian Spring Rolls from Noshing with The Nolands
- Mexican Meatballs with Queso Blanco from Cooking on the Ranch
- Parmigiano Crisps from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Buffalo Chicken Potstickers from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Mediterranean Nachos from The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Chinese Barbecue Wings from girlichef
- Mini Veggie Quesadillas from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Roasted Tomato Hummus from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Cashew Baba Ghanoush : Roasted Eggplant Dip from Sue's Nutrition Buzz
- Honey Sesame Seed Crackers from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip Potato Skins from Family Foodie
Game Day Entrees:
- Super Sloppy Joes from The Foodie Army Wife
- Buffalo Chicken Chili from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Mini Meatball and Mozzarella Sandwiches from Cookin' Mimi
- Super Bowl Bento from Ninja Baking
- "Chorizo" and Black Bean Vegetarian Chili from Foxes Love Lemons
- Twice Baked Chili Cheese Potatoes from Neighborfood
- Barbecue Chicken Sloppy Sandwiches from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Easy Vegetarian Chili from Delaware Girl Eats
- Game Day Chili from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
- Dr. Pepper Turkey Chili from The Texan New Yorker
Game Day Desserts:
- Heavenly Hash Cookies from The Foodie Patootie
- Cookie Dough Billionaire Bars from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Chocolate Streusel Bars from Magnolia Days
- Coffee Chocolate Cheesecake Squares with a Biscoff Crust from Desserts Required
- Microwave Caramel Popcorn from Pies and Plots
- Mini Coconut Cups from Basic N Delicious
- Triple Chocolate S'mores Brownies from Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Cracker Jack Candy from What Smells So Good?
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Bravissimo for your masterful play on baking and Super Bowl moves! Your chocolate streusel bars are indeed big time winners! Thank you for sharing the victorious recipe =)
Your first paragraph is spot on Renee, and anything with streusel makes me happy! Now, chocolate streusel... that deserves a special mention, amazing!
Cooking and baking is definitely my kind of sport too! These bars look scrumptious!
Renee,
love your opening paragraph! 🙂 and hello?! These chocolate streusel bars (or pecan streusel I should say) look amazing!!! Love that you added pecans into the crumb topping!
Mmmmm you said chocolate and those bars look amazing. I love the streusel on top!
Your paragraph with the football/recipe is AWESOME!
Streusel on top of chocolate? This is insanely genius! I agree Renee, cooking and baking are foodie's favorite sport!
xo
Roz
Yum! Love the bars! They look just delish!!!
I need these in my life... if only I lived next door to you...
Renee,
These look DIVINE!! It's like a chocolate cheesecake in a bar. YUMMM!!!! #pinning
These are gorgeous!!! I definitely need to give these a try.
Renee -- my husband will go nuts over these -- he's a chocoholic -- thanks for the recipe!
Yum, yum, yum, I could eat the whole pan of these!!
These look absolutely amazing! #pinning
I love chocolate, I love streusel, EVERYBODY WINS! 🙂
My, my, my…
Another delicious recipe and more gorgeous pictures!!
I love streusel anything, and this is definitely no exception!
These look heavenly, Renee!!! And I'd enjoy them even if there wasn't a big game 😉
These look like a perfect breakfast cookie bar to me 🙂
I love a good streusel! And these bars look like perfection to me! I would happily have them with that glass of milk!
I will devour the entire tray. 😀
I love desserts for any game day!! This one is a MUST, I bet the every single one was gobbled up!
it looks delish!
I swear any dessert made with that condensed milk is a winner. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Pinned.
I love anything that has a streusel topping! I'd eat the whole pan ahh
The colors and textures play off each other perfectly in these bars!
This is such a great post, Renee. Love the first paragraph! And obviously, I'm in love with these beautiful, perfect bars. They're lovely! And lucky me, I have all the ingredients at home to make these.
Yum! Never heard of chocolate streusel but now I am a HUGE fan
I totally get baking be a sport. I'm not a competitive person, but baking certainly challenges me to constantly be improving in a way that sports never could. 😉 These really look fabulous Renee! I'm stumbling!
Almost too pretty to eat! Almost.
I don't need any kind of event to eat these. They have chocolate. And streusel. And chocolate. 🙂
Yum! My students would do anything for me if I brought these in.
These sound delicious! I love the chocolate and pecan streusel!
What a terrific idea for a dessert bar! I love these. And I'm with you. I would much prefer foodball to football.
I'm not much into football, but I sure do love the sport of baking and eating. These look decadent.
Fabulous!! These are going on my MUST MAKE list!!
Cream cheese, chocolate and streusel - what a glorious combination! You have made Game Day food elegant and I will happily forsake the savory snacks for one of these delightful bars!
Game day treat, snowy day treat, every day treat. Whatever the occasion, these bars need to be on my menu 😉
I hope they will be on your menu soon. I can see you really enjoying them.
Renee!! Your football analogy for baking these bars - too funny! And these look way too good!
Thanks! That's about as close to anything I know about football as it gets.
Renee these look beautiful! I love the combination of the chocolate with the streusel topping...YUM!
Streusel topping is simply heavenly to me. I was in bliss eating these bars with chocolate too.