Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake Bars
Description
Dried cranberries add a tart taste to these orange-flavored cheesecake bars that are perfect on your holiday dessert tray, or for an after-dinner offering any time of the year.
Ingredients
•
1/2 cup butter, softened
•
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
•
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
•
1 cup all-purpose flour
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2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
•
1/2 cup white sugar
•
1 cup dried cranberries
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6 tablespoons orange juice
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2 eggs, beaten
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1 tablespoon grated orange zest
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2
Combine butter and brown sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Stir in flour and walnuts until crumbly. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish.
3
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.
4
Meanwhile, combine cream cheese and white sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add cranberries, orange juice, eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract, mix until well combined. Spread cream cheese filling onto cooled crust.
5
Bake until surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until completely chilled, 4 hours to overnight.
6
Cut into 12 bars and serve.