Shelly's Recipe

HOLIDAY CHEESECAKE BARS

Category: Bars

2 cups flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cold butter
1 cup chopped walnuts

Filling:
2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sliced red and green maraschino cherries, optional

In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts. Reserve 1 cup. Press remaining crumbs onto the bottom of an ungreased 13 inch x 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk, lemon juice and vanilla; pour over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 25-30 minutes longer or until edges are lightly browned and filling is almost set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Garnish with cherries if desired. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2 dozen.