Apricot Cranberry Cheesecake Bars Food

CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line an 8-inch baking dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil (so that there is an overhang on at least 2 sides) and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar, and salt. Stir until well combined, using your fingertips if necessary to be sure no lumps of brown sugar remain. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until set. Remove the crust from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• Make the batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with beaters or the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and flour together on medium speed until just smooth, about 1 minute. Add the sour cream, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt; beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Do not over-mix.
• Pour the batter into the slightly cooled crust. Check to make sure your oven has cooled to 325°F, then bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the filling is set but still a little jiggly in the center. (An instant-read thermometer, inserted into the filling about 1" in from the edge, should read between 180°-190°F.) The cheesecake will continue to cook as it cools. Remove the bars from the oven, and cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Refrigerate until cold, at least 6 hours but preferably overnight.
• Use the foil overhang to lift the cheesecake out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into squares, wiping the knife clean with a damp cloth between slices. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Note: The cheesecake bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cheesecake bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place the cooled cheesecake (cut or uncut) on a plate and freeze, uncovered, until firm. Remove the cheesecake from the freezer, wrap it in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place in a freezer bag. Seal and return to freezer for up to 3 months. Remove the foil before defrosting.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, process graham crackers, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in melted butter until crumbs are moistened. Wipe processor bowl clean. With a flat-bottomed 1-cup measure or glass, press crumbs evenly into a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake until crust is firm, 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 325 degrees.
• In a small saucepan, bring apricots, 1/4 cup sugar, and pinch of salt to a boil over medium-high, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is shiny, 10 minutes. In food processor, puree apricot mixture, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon water.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sour cream on medium until smooth. Add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until smooth. Add vanilla and pinch of salt and beat to combine. Add eggs and beat until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed. Pour cream-cheese mixture into cooled crust and smooth top.
• Randomly drop small spoonfuls apricot puree on cream-cheese mixture. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, gently swirl puree. Bake just until set, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan on rack, then refrigerate until chilled and firm before cutting into squares, 2 hours.

CRANBERRY-APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 8-inch square pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat crust ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Press in pan.
• Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix filling ingredients.
• Remove partially baked crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Spread filling evenly over crust.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer or until mixture is set and appears glossy. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Process shortbread cookies in the bowl of a food processor until finely ground. Press into a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Beat eggs and sugar together in a bowl. Add ricotta cheese, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Stir in apricots and spread over crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up and the edges are slightly brown, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine sour cream and apricot jam in a bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven and spread jam topping on top while still hot. Chill until set, 1 to 2 hours. Cut into 24 bars.

CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, oats, brown sugar and butter; mix until crumbly. Press 2-1/2 cups of the crumb mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the milk, egg whites, vanilla and remaining flour. Spoon over prepared crust. In a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce and cornstarch. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. , Sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack before cutting.

CRANBERRY-APRICOT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Line an 8 inch square pan with foil, spray with cooking spray.
• In large bowl beat crust ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Press in pan.
• Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix filling ingredients.
• Remove partially baked crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325. Spread filling over crust.
• Bake 9 to 12 minutes longer or until mixture is set and appears glossy. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows.

CHEESECAKE CRANBERRY BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup for the topping. Stir in chips to the remaining mixture. With floured fingers, press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until light. Add the milk, lemon juice and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour over the crust. Combine the cornstarch and cranberry sauce until blended. Spoon over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the reserved crust mixture., Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool for 1 hour on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Beat flour, butter, granulated sugar, 1/3 cup corn syrup and the salt in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until dough forms. Press evenly in pan.
• Beat cream cheese in medium bowl on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs until well blended. Beat in 1 cup corn syrup and the vanilla until smooth. Pour over dough.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until edges are light golden brown and filling is set (filling may appear puffy.) Stir preserves; spread over hot bars. Refrigerate at least 3 hours until chilled.
• For 64 bars, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows; cut bars diagonally in half. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.