Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 package (18.25 oz) yellow cake mix
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 2 packages (8 oz ea) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1 1/4 cups whole berry cranberry sauce

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 cake pan with non-stick spray.

Stir together cake mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, softened butter and 1 egg until crumbly; stir in chopped nuts; press mixture evenly into bottom of prepared cake pan.

Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and 2 eggs until smooth and creamy; spread cream cheese mixture over crust.

Stir cranberry sauce and spoon in rows down the length of the pan. Using a butter knife, gently swirl cranberry and cream cheese. Bake 40-45 minutes or until cream cheese is set and crust is cooked. Cool before cutting. Cut into 32 bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Caramel Cranberry Ice Cream Topping

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole berry cranberry sauce (approx 16 oz can)
• 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

Method:

Combine cranberry sauce and caramel; heat, stirring occasionally until warm. Delicious served over ice cream and cake. Garnish with chopped pecans. Makes about 2 1/2 cups, serves approximately 6. Ice Cream not included in nutrition analysis.

Cran-Raspberry Fondue

Ingredients:

• 1 package (10 oz) frozen raspberries in sweetened syrup, thawed
• 1 can (16 oz) jellied cranberry sauce (about 2 cups)

Method:

Thaw raspberries; puree and strain or mash with a fork. Add jellied cranberry sauce and heat until melted. Pour mixture into fondue pot and keep warm over low heat. (note - if desired, thicken by adding 1 tablespoon cornstarch to raspberries; stirring constantly heat over medium high until bubbly and thick, then add cranberry sauce.) Makes about 3 cups, serves approximately 8. Dippers not included in nutrition analysis.

Serve with cheese cubes; cooked cocktail meatballs or sausages; chicken nuggets; cookies; pound cake and other dippers of choice.