Apple & Raisin Cheesecake Bars

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 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
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 granny smith apple, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.
• 2 crust: in a medium 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.
• 3 press remaining mixture evenly into the baking pan. bake 12 to 15 minutes or until firm but not browned. remove from oven.
• 4 filling: prepare filling while crust is baking. in a large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, ½ cup sugar, and vanilla; beat together until mixture appears light and fluffy. spread cream cheese mixture over the still warm baked crust.
• 5 in a medium bowl, combine chopped apple, raisins, and almond extract; stir until mixed. add 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice; mix well.
• 6 spread the apple mixture evenly over the cream cheese mixture.
• 7 sprinkle the reserved oat mixture evenly over the top.
• 8 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 wire rack to cool. cut into 2 inch bars.
• 9 cover bars and refrigerate until ready to serve.