First Step: Preheat and prepare pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Select an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan and prepare it by lightly greasing or lining with parchment paper for easy removal.

Second Step: Mix cheesecake filling. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and the room temperature egg until the mixture is smooth and light. If desired, stir in shredded coconut for extra texture.

Third Step: Press cookie dough crust. Unroll or break apart slightly more than half of the refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough. Press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base crust.

Fourth Step: Add cheesecake layer and topping. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cookie dough crust. Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the cheesecake layer, distributing it evenly but loosely for texture.

Fifth Step: Bake until set. Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The top should turn golden brown and the cheesecake layer should be firm but still slightly jiggly in the center. Use a toothpick or light touch to test. Thicker bars in an 8-inch pan might need a couple of extra minutes.

Final Step: Cool and chill. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to fully set the cheesecake filling. Once chilled, slice into 16 bars and serve. Garnish optionally with extra chocolate chips or a dusting of powdered sugar.