Cranberry Almond Cheesecake Squares Food

CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Steps:

• Before beginning, set all ingredients out on the counter to come to room temperature. This is very important because it ensures a creamy cheesecake.
• Cranberry Swirl
• Begin by making the cranberry swirl sauce. Add the cranberries, sugar, orange juice and salt to a medium saucepan.
• Bring the mixture to a slow boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 25 min., stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have burst and the mixture has gotten thick. (Don't break up the cranberries too much because you want to have nice juicy bursts in the squares. )
• Remove from the heat and let this cool a bit while you make the cheesecake.
• Cheesecake Squares
• Preheat the oven to 325ºF and put a large pot of water on to boil. When it reaches the boiling point, pour it into a casserole dish or oven-safe pot placed on the bottom rack of the oven, filling the casserole dish almost all of the way. (This acts as a makeshift water bath and turns the oven into a "steam room," ensuring that the crust won't crack.)
• To make the crust, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, butter and brown sugar.
• Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish, and line it with parchment paper so you can easily pull the squares out of the dish when you want to slice and serve.
• Press the graham cracker mixture onto the bottom of the dish and set aside.
• To make the cheesecake filling, add the cream cheese to a bowl and beat with a standing or hand-held mixer for 30 seconds, or until smooth. Add the sugar and cream together for about 1 minute.
• Crack the eggs into a separate bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, to the cream cheese, scraping the side of the bowl after each addition.
• Add the sour cream and heavy cream and beat until everything is mixed well. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the dish.
• Spoon tablespoon-sized dollops of the cranberry swirl sauce all over the cheesecake. Using a toothpick or skewer, swirl the sauce all over the pan making a design of your liking.
• Place the dish on the middle rack of the oven.
• Bake for about 1 hour. The cheesecake will be done when the side looks set but the center still jiggles slightly when nudged.
• Turn the oven off and prop the door open a little bit. Allow the cheesecake to cool for an hour in the oven.
• After the hour has passed, allow the cheesecake to cool completely before placing in the fridge to cool for at least 2 hours.
• When you're ready to serve, pull up on the parchment to remove the sheet of cheesecake. Slice into squares, cleaning the knife between each slice to get a clean cut.

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, butter and confectioners' sugar; press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. Bake until center is almost set, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, beat all ingredients until smooth; spread over bars. Store in the refrigerator.

CRANBERRY ALMOND SWIRL CHEESECAKE COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Leave oven on; remove crust and let cool.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

CRANBERRY CRUMB SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Cream together soft butter and icing sugar until fluffy.
• Gradually stir in 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) flour.
• Press onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch (3.5 L) baking pan.
• Bake about 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Reduce temperature to 325 degrees (160 degrees C). In large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth.
• Stir in ReaLemon.
• Pour over prepared crust.
• In small bowl, combine 1 tablespoons (15 mL) of the brown sugar and cornstarch; mix well.
• Stir in cranberry sauce. Spoon evenly over cheese mixture. In medium mixing bowl, combine remaining brown sugar and 1/3 cup (75 mL) flour.
• Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in nuts.
• Sprinkle evenly over cranberry mixture.
• Bake 45 to 50 minute or until bubbly and golden.
• Cool.
• Serve warm or chilled.
• Cover leftovers; refrigerate.

CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, ricotta and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the butter, cornstarch, flour and vanilla until smooth. Fold in sour cream. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1 hour or until almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. , Chill several hours or overnight. Top each serving with fruit if desired.

CRANBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease a 9" x 13" Pan.
• Mix the butter with the sugar, and add the eggs and flour.
• Stir in the cranberries and pecans.
• Pour batter into greased pan, spreading out evenly.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes.
• Cool. Cut into squares. At Christmas-time, you can add chopped green candied cherries. These also freeze well.