Vanilla Raspberry Cheesecake Bars.

Chef mariajane's Note:

You don't need a springform pan to prepare this cheesecake recipe!! Instead you bake it in a 9x13-inch pan and cut it into bars. They are made extra-special with raspberry preserves marbled throughout the filling. This recipe came from McCormick's - very tasty!!

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 24

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1⁄3; cup butter , melted
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese , softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• ¼ cup raspberry preserves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar and ginger. Press firmly onto bottom of foil-lined 13x9-inch baking pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add flour and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust. Gently drop small spoonfuls of preserves over batter. Cut through batter several times with knife for marble effect.
3. Bake 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool completely on wire rack.
4. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Lift out of pan onto cutting board. Cut into bars. Garnish as desired. Store leftover bars in refrigerator.