Recipe: Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars

Ladies and Gentlemen, I haven’t shared a recipe in a while.  I’m on a diet and am longing for cookies, so I’m sharing one of my favorite cookie recipes with you, and I hope you and your families will eat these in my absence.

2 cups unsifted flour
1-1/2 cups oats
3/4 cup plus 1 Tbs firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened condensed milk (NOT evap!)
1/4 cup concentrated lemon juice (jar)
2 Tbss cornstarch
1 (16 oz.) can whole berry cranberry sauce

Preheat oven to 350°.  In large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, 3/4 cup sugar and butter or margarine.  Mix until crumbly.  Reserving 1-1/2 cups crumb mixture, press remainder firmly on bottom of greased 13×9-inch baking pan.  Bake 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, in smaller bowl, beat cheese until fluffy.  Gradually, beat in condensed milk until smooth.  Add lemon juice.  Spread evenly over prepared crust.  In small bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and cornstarch.  Stir in cranberry sauce.  Spoon evenly over cheese layer.  Top with reserved crumb mixture.  Bake 40 minutes or until golden.  Cool.  Chill.  Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 24 to 36 bars.

I’m crying on the inside as you all eat them!