Cake Batter Cheesecake Bars

** Recipe from The Teenage Taste ** 

* 1 ¾ c. vanilla cookie crumbs (i.e. Nilla wafers) 
* 6 Tbl. butter, melted 
* 16 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 
* ¾ c. + 2 Tbl. granulated sugar, divided 
* ½ c. yellow cake mix 
* 2 eggs + 1 egg yolk 
* ½ c. + 2 Tbl. milk 
* 1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract 
* ¼ tsp. salt 
* ¼ c. sprinkles 
* ~5 drops blue food coloring (optional) 
* ~3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9" square baking pan, then line with parchment paper; set aside.  Stir together cookie crumbs, 2 Tbl. sugar, and melted butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until crust is just brown around edges, 8-10 minutes.  Meanwhile, beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium, until fluffy, about 2 min. Add remaining sugar and beat for an additional couple of min, until smooth. Add eggs and yolk, milk, vanilla, salt and beat again until completely combined and smooth. Finally, stir in cake mix and sprinkles until smooth.  Pour filling over crust. Set pan in a larger pan (a 9×13" works for this), and add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of baking pan. Bake until just set, 40-45 min. Remove baking pan from water bath, and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool 30 min, then refrigerate for at least 3 hrs. or overnight.  Cut into bars. Store leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator.