Peanut Butter Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 16
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter, chunky
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup peanuts, finely chopped
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 2/3 cup peanut butter, chunky
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degree f.
• 2 grease an 8x8x2-inch baking pan; set aside. in a small bowl combine cranberries and water. cover and let stand 20 minutes. drain well.
• 3 in a large mixing bowl beat the butter and 1/2 cup peanut butter with an electric mixer until well combined.
• 4 beat in the brown sugar. beat in the flour on low speed (mixture will be crumbly).
• 5 stir in the peanuts and drained cranberries. reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture.
• 6 press remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• 7 bake for 12 minutes.
• 8 meanwhile, for filling, in a medium bowl beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.
• 9 add the egg, 2/3 cup peanut butter, and lemon juice; beat until well combined.
• 10 spread evenly over crust.
• 11 sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top, pressing lightly into filling.
• 12 bake about 25 minutes more or until top is lightly browned and edges are puffed.
• 13 cool on a wire rack.
• 14 *note: do not use natural peanut butter in this recipe.