Recipe: Oatmeal Cheesecake Cranberry Bars

It's been a whole week since we have been back home.  I am still recovering from my surgery but I finally got in my kitchen a few days ago and whipped up a batch of the most delicious Oatmeal Cheesecake Cranberry Bars.  I had LOTS of time on my hands to peruse through some of my favorite blogs, which is where I found this recipe on The Sweets Life.  If you haven't been on Natalie's blog, you are really missing out.  I have found some awesome meatless meal alternatives, breads and rolls and fantastic looking desserts.  Really, everything she makes looks fabulous!

The cheesecake bars were simple to make and super delicious.  I love the bottom, it was almost like shortbread.  The cranberry sauce was perfect with the creamy cheesecake and the crumb topping took the whole thing over the top!  I made a few changes based on what I had on hand but stayed pretty on track with the original recipe.


You must give this yummy goodness a try!  Enjoy!

Oatmeal Cheesecake Cranberry Bars

{adapted from the original recipe by Natalie/The Sweets Life}

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Ingredients

• 2 cups AP flour
• 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp orange extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-14 oz can whole cranberry sauce
• 2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick spray; set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine flour, oats and brown sugar. Add butter with a pastry cutter (or your hands) until mixture resembles coarse crumbles.
4. Reserve 1 1/2 cups oat mixture; set aside.
5. Press remaining oat mixture into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 15 minutes; remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
7. In a bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
8. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth.
9. Add orange and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
10. Pour cream cheese mixture over crust; set aside.
11. In a small bowl, combine cranberry sauce and cornstarch, mixing well.
12. Dollop the cranberry mixture over the cream cheese. You will not completely cover the cream cheese.
13. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the top.
14. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.
15. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about an hour.
16. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and cut into bars.

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