Recipe: Cheesecake Bars, Crunchers and Cookies (with walnut crust)

SANTA'S FAVORITE CHEESECAKE BARS

FOR THE CRUST:
2/3 cup finely crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
FOR THE FILLING:
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tbsp. lemon juice
Red or green colored sugar (to decorate)

TO MAKE THE CRUST:
Stir together graham crackers, flour, nuts and sugar. Add melted butter; mix well. Pat into ungreased 9x9x2-inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
Cream together cream cheese and 1/3 cup sugar. Add egg, lemon peel and lemon juice; mix well.

Pour filling over baked crust layer.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, decorate with green or red colored sugar. When completely cooled, cut into bars.

Makes 36 bars

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NESTLES CHEESE CRUNCHERS
(AKA Butterscotch Cream Cheese Bars)

FOR THE CRUST:
1 (12 oz.) pkg. Nestle butterscotch flavored morsels (or chocolate chips)
6 tbsp. butter or margarine
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups chopped walnuts
FOR THE FILLING:
2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup flour
2 tbsp. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

TO MAKE THE CRUST:
Combine chips and butter over hot (not boiling) water; heat until melted and smooth.

Transfer to large bowl; stir in graham cracker crumbs and walnuts with a fork until mixture forms small crumbs. Reserve 2 cups crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture into ungreased jelly roll pan (15x10x1).

Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
In large bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in flour and lemon juice.

Pour filling evenly over hot baked crust. Sprinkle top with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool completely and cut into 2x1 inch bars. Chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes 75 (2x1 inch) bars
Source: Nestle

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CHEESECAKE COOKIES (without graham crackers)

FOR THE CRUST:
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup flour
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
FOR THE FILLING:
1/4 cup sugar
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

TO MAKE THE CRUST:
Cream butter with brown sugar in small bowl. Add flour and nuts. Mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture for topping. Press remainder into bottom of 8-inch square pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes.

TO MAKE THE FILLING
Blend sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Add egg, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat well.

Spread filling over baked crust and sprinkle with reserved crumbs.

Bake a 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Cool and cut into 2-inch squares.

Makes 16 squares
Source: Mrs. William E. Hamb in Mountain Measures by the Junior League of Charleston, WV, 1974

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Hi Lori,

Here are three recipes for you to check out. The first one fits your description if you were to double it and use a jelly roll pan.

Happy New Year to You and to Your Grandmother Too!

Betsy