PEAR & CREAM CHEESE BARS

By cecelia26_

Ingredients

• Crust
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/3 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pear Mixture
• 3 medium (3 cups) pears, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Filling
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg

Details

Servings 32
Adapted from landolakes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine butter and 2/3 cup brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add all remaining crust ingredients; continue beating until well mixed.

Press half of crust mixture onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, combine all pear mixture ingredients in medium bowl. Toss to combine and coat chopped pear; set aside.

Combine all filling ingredients except egg in medium bowl; beat at medium speed until well mixed. Add egg; continue beating until well mixed. Pour filling over partially baked crust. Spoon pear mixture over filling. Crumble remaining crust mixture evenly over pears; press down lightly.

Bake 28-33 minutes or until top is golden brown and center is set. Cool completely; cut into bars. Store bars refrigerated.