Holiday Cheesecake Bars

Name: Holiday Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2/3 cup packed brown sugar; 2/3 cup cold butter; 1 cup chopped walnuts; FILLING:; 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup sugar; 2 eggs; 1/4 cup 2% milk; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Sliced red and green maraschino cherries, optional

Christmas officially arrives at our house when I make these melt-in-your-mouth bars. Red and green maraschino cherries add a jolly finish to each light and creamy morsel. —Kathy Dorman, Snover, Michigan

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cold butter
1 cup chopped walnuts
FILLING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sliced red and green maraschino cherries, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts. Reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumbs onto the bottom of an ungreased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Pour filling over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs.
Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until edges are lightly browned and filling is almost set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Garnish with cherries if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 195 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

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Reviews

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Average Rating:

DivaLicious1

Oct 25, 2012

Exellent..........
linsvin

Dec 14, 2011

Every Christmas I try to add at least one or two new cookies/bars for the holidays. This is terrific! Rich, beautiful presentation and delicious! Will add this to my recipe box!
Erikajo

Dec 21, 2009

This is a family favorite. I grew up making this with my mom every year for Christmas, and now I make it for my own family too.
gavingrma_OH

Dec 15, 2009

These are GREAT. My only change was to make a graham cracker crust (2-1/2 cups ground graham cracker crumbs mixed with 1 stick (1/2 cup) of melted butter) to make them nut allergy friendly. I will definitely make them again.