Italian Cheese Bars
By
Patricia Dixon
@patdixon
1
i usually cook these for Christmas. My family loves them. The moist bars have the light texture and classic flavor of traditional Italian cheesecake.
Ingredients
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1/2 cbutter or margarine
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1--15oz ozcontainer of fat free ricotta cheese
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2 Tbspall-purpose flour
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1egg
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2 tspfinely shredded orange peel
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1 tspalmond extract
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1/2 csliced almonds or chopped hazelnuts
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1/3 cchopped candied cherries
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1/3 cgolden rasins
How to Make Italian Cheese Bars
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter or margarine in a 9x9x2 inch baking pan in the oven { about 6 minutes}. Remove from oven. Stir crushed crakers into melted butter or margarine; press mixture firmly and evenly onto bottom of pan using a wooden spoon. Set aside.
- Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, sugar, flour, orange peel, and almond extract in a blender container or food processor bowl; blend or process until smooth.Carefully spread cheese mixture over crumb mixture.
- Combine the almondsor hazelnuts, cherries, and rasins; sprinkle over the cheese layer. Bake for 25 to 30 mins. or until the edges are puffed and golden.
Cool in pan on a wire rack for 1 hour; cover and chill for 2 hours. Cut into bars. Makes 20. - Make ahead tip: Store cooled bars in tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
About Italian Cheese Bars
Course/Dish: Cakes Other Desserts
