1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to make it easy to lift the bars out later.

2. Prepare the Crust

1. Mix Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Stir until everything is well combined.
2. Form the Crust: Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create an even layer.
3. Bake and Cool: Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool slightly.

3. Make the Cheesecake Filling

1. Beat Cream Cheese and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to ensure a smooth batter.
3. Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract until everything is fully combined.

4. Layer the Cheesecake

1. Pour Cheesecake Filling: Pour the cheesecake mixture over the cooled crust, using a spatula to spread it evenly.
2. Add Pecans: Sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the cheesecake layer.

5. Add Caramel and Chocolate

1. Drizzle Caramel Sauce: Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the pecans.
2. Sprinkle Chocolate Chips: Scatter the chocolate chips on top.

6. Bake

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set but slightly jiggly. It’ll continue to set as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks a bit soft in the center.

7. Cool and Chill

1. Cool Completely: Allow the bars to cool at room temperature.
2. Refrigerate: Once cooled, refrigerate the bars for at least 4 hours or overnight to let them fully set.

8. Serve

1. Lift Out and Slice: If you used parchment paper, lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares for serving.
2. Drizzle with Caramel: For an extra touch, drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the bars just before serving.