Teddy Graham Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars (made with actual bears)

I'm so honored! Shari of Whisk: a food blog gave me a Yummy Blog Award. How sweet is that? Shari's blog is always filled with beautiful photos, yummy food and great commentary. I always learn a lot from her blog and get very, very hungry!

I am giving the Yummy Blog Award to people close and far:
From Germany - Ostwestwind
From Los Angeles - Tender Crumb
Formerly of Los Angeles and now of Kentucky - 2.46%

Back to baking... So, there I am watching Everyday Baking with John B. of Martha's world. (Let me say again that I love my DVR - although it has totally ruined pursuits like, say, reading books now that there is always something on TV for me...but I digress). There I am watching John B. make these Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars and he says to use plain chocolate wafers for the crust.

Fast forward to me in my janky Albertson's market searching for these chocolate wafers. I never saw them before and they aren't in this store. Nothing. (Although I have added a ton of extra crap to my cart...note to self: don't go shopping when hungry.) But then I see my alternative...Mini Chocolate Teddy Grahams.

Oh the massacre... little mini Teddy Grahams throwing themselves into the food processor for my chocolate crust.

The crust is bears, sugar and melted butter. Place in 8x8 pan and bake off.

Part of the pumpkin/cream cheese mixture is blended with melted chocolate and then marbled into the mixture.

Pumpkin, cream cheese, chocolate...and little bears.

I used organic pumpkin puree from Trader Joe's. These bars aren't on the top of my list, but you might want to try them if you like pumpkin and chocolate!