Premier Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars

Submitted by ratherbeswimmin

"For winter parties or year round."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 18mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 24 large bars

ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package spice cake mix
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 1⁄4 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 (16 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°; position oven rack in middle of oven; spray bottom only of a 13x9 inch metal baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, add cake mix and melted butter; blend 1-2 minutes with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended.
3. Stir in oats with a wooden spoon; press half the mixture evenly into prepared pan; add white chocolate chips to remaining oat mixture; set aside.
4. In another bowl, beat cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with electric mixer on medium speed until blended and smooth.
5. Spoon and spread cream cheese mixture over prepared crust.
6. In a small bowl stir together the cornstarch and cranberry sauce until well blended; spoon over cream cheese mixture.
7. Top with reserved crumb mixture and press down gently.
8. Bake 35-38 minutes or until topping is set and firm to touch.
9. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely; cut into bars.

Reviews

[grandypink]

These bars are somewhat crumbly. I think next time I make them I would press at least 2/3 of the crumb mixture on the bottom and only 1/3 or less on the top. I blended the cranberry sauce a bit to break up the berries for easier spreading on the cream cheese layer. These bars are very rich and delicious, a great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey dinners.