Lemon Cream Cheese Squares

By Tamipri

Ingredients

• 1/3 c. butter, softened
• 1/3 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans
• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 3 Tb. lemon juice
• 2 Tb. milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add brown sugar. Gradually add flour, mixing well. Stir in pecans. Reserve 3/4 cup crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of an ungreased 8" square baking pan. Bake 12-15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining ingredients at medium speed until creamy. Pour cream cheese mixture over prepared crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden. Cool.

TO STORE: Cover and refrigerate up to 5 days or cover tightly and freeze up to 1 month.

TO SERVE: If frozen, thaw at room temperature. Cut into squares.