Cranberry Almond Swirl Cheesecake Cookie Bars
Description
Not your ordinary cheesecake cookie bars, these fancy treats feature an easy homemade cranberry sauce swirled into an almond-scented batter.
Ingredients
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cooking spray
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1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
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1/2 cup butter, melted
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2 tablespoons white sugar
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3/4 cup fresh cranberries
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1/4 cup water
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3/4 cup white sugar, divided
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2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
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2 eggs, at room temperature
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5 tablespoons milk, at room temperature
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1 tablespoon lemon juice
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1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
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1/3 cup sliced almonds, or to taste
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.
2
Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a bowl. Mix until butter evenly coats the crumbs. Transfer to the baking dish and flatten into an even layer.
3
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Leave oven on; remove crust and let cool.
4
Place cranberries, water, and 1/4 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Cook until cranberries have burst and mixture is thick, about 7 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Pour sauce into a blender or food processor and puree until smooth, adding more water to thin, if necessary.
5
Combine remaining sugar and cream cheese in a bowl. Beat using an electric mixer until smooth, scraping down sides of the bowl every 90 seconds, about 4 minutes total. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add milk, lemon juice, and almond extract; mix batter on medium-low until combined.
6
Spread batter evenly over the cooled crust. Drop spoonfuls of cranberry sauce on top and use a knife to swirl it through the batter. Toss almonds evenly over the cheesecake.
7
Bake in the preheated oven until set, 27 to 33 minutes. Let cool, at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate until set, 8 hours to overnight. Cut into bars the next day.