Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup Almonds, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup Butter-flavor Shortening
• 2 8-oz. packages Cream Cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• 3/4 tsp. Almond Extract
• 1 cup Raspberry Preserves
• 1/2 cup Flaked Coconut
• 1/2 cup Sliced Almonds

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350-F degrees and select a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan in which to prepare your bars.

In a large mixing bowl, blend together the flour, brown sugar, and finely chopped almonds. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for part of the topping.

Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the selected baking pan. Bake for 10 or 15 minutes, until the edges are golden.

Meanwhile, in a separate mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and almond extract until smooth. Pour the mixture over the hot bar base layer just removed from the oven. Return the cream cheese filling to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.

While still warm from the oven, spread the Raspberry Preserves evenly over the top of the cream cheese filling.

In a small bowl, combine the flaked coconut and the sliced almonds with the reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the melting raspberry preserves.

Return the raspberry and cream cheese bars to the oven for 15 minutes additional baking time. Remove from the oven and let cool, then chill for 3 hours prior to serving.

Refrigerate to store.

Makes About 3 Dozen Bars

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: Unknown
Submitted By: Teresa
literary_lizard@yahoo.com
Raspberry Cheesecake Bars