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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes |
Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 24 |
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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. Ingredients:
2 cups king arthur unbleached 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:
1. 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 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes.
2. 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.
3. 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. Yield: 2 dozen.
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