Apple and Golden Raisin Cheesecake Bars

By cecelia26_

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• Filling:
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Details

Servings 3
Adapted from thebakingpan.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare one 13x9x2 inch oblong pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening.

Crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and granulated sugar; whisk together to mix. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup mixture. Press remaining mixture evenly into the baking pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until firm but not browned. Remove from oven.

Filling: Prepare filling while crust is baking. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla; use an electric mixer or wooden spoon and beat together until thoroughly mixed. Spread cream cheese mixture over the still warm baked crust. In a medium bowl, combine chopped apple, raisins, and almond extract; stir until mixed. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice; mix well. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture evenly over the top. Bake: Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown. Leave cookie in the pan to cool; place baking pan on a wire cooling rack to cool. Cut into 2 inch bars. Cover bars and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tip: My favorite tool to cut bar cookies is a stainless steel dough scraper; simply push the dough scraper straight down into the cookie for straight cuts. Or use a pizza cutter or small kitchen knife to cut the cookie into bars.