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Apple and Golden Raisin Cheesecake Bars

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Apple and Golden Raisin Cheesecake Bars
This is a bar cookie that tastes like a cross between cheese cake and apple pie. The crunchy oatmeal base pairs nicely with the creamy cream cheese filling and sweet apple raisin mixture with just the right amount of warm spices.
Recipe type: Dessert | Bar Cookie
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Recipe Notes
Pan: One 13"x9"x2" Oblong Pan Prep: Greased Oven Temp: 350° Yield: 3 Dozen Bars Storage: Airtight Container, Room Temperature

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Ingredients
Crust:
  • 1½ cups old-fashioned oats
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
Filling:
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare one 13x9x2 inch oblong pan; lightly grease the pan with shortening.
Crust:
  1. 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.
  2. Press remaining mixture evenly into the baking pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until firm but not browned. Remove from oven.
Filling:
  1. Prepare filling while crust is baking. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, ½ 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.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine chopped apple, raisins, and almond extract; stir until mixed. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice; mix well.
  3. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture evenly over the top.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.