Raspberry Jam Cheesecake Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temp
• 1 cup flour
• 1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened to room temp
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (i use 1/2 tsp. almond and 1/2 tsp. vanilla, butter and nut extract)
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam, red

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees. prepare an 8 inch square baking pan by spraying it with non stick spray.
• 2 in a large bowl, combine crust ingredients until well blended.
• 3 press into the bottom of the pan and bake for 15-20 minutes (depending on your oven) until the edges are lightly brown.
• 4 while the crust is baking, combine the filling ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well blended.
• 5 remove the crust from the oven and pour the filling over the crust.
• 6 in a small bowl, heat 1/2 of the 1/4 cup of jam until soft.
• 7 carefully spoon the jam over and into the filing without disturbing the crust.
• 8 put the pan back in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes longer until filling is set.
• 9 cool for 30 minutes.
• 10 stir remaining jam until smooth, then spread it evenly over the cooled bars.
• 11 refrigerate 30 minutes.
• 12 store leftovers (like you'll have those!) in the refrigerator.