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C.L.U.E. Society Desserts Food

#BloggerCLUE: Cranberry Cream Cheese Dream Bars

Here is the buzz about Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake!  I am dubious about a skinny Santa during the holidays, and, as a rule, I am disinclined to trust a skinny chef.  Give me a James Beard or Paul Prudhomme or Paula Dean type, someone who looks like he or she actually eats and enjoys what they cook.  But Liz is an exception to my rule and the eponymous name for her food blog describes her well.  Liz is one of those skinny chicks you want to hate because she is thin, but you just can’t help but love her because she has such a bubbly and sweet personality and makes such delectable desserts.

IFBC & Kathleens Wedding Sep-Aug 2014 398
Anna Dishes, That Skinny Chick Can Bake, A Mama Baby & Shar Pei & Confessions of a Culinary Diva at IFBC 2014

This month the C.L.U.E. Food Blogger Society theme is all about baking something your grandmother would have made.  My grandmothers were great bakers and That Skinny Chick Can Bake website has many recipes that would have appealed to them.  I’m just relieved that Liz’s photos are calorie free because I felt like I gained five unwanted pounds just trying to select a recipe.

 

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With Liz & Alice at IFBC 2014

Liz’s Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars were the perfect selection.  Both of my grandmothers were quite frugal and repurposing leftovers was part of their kitchen wizardry.  The beauty of this recipe is that it utilizes items you have in your pantry and can be served to a crowd.  It’s also quite festive and a great dessert to bring to party, your office or just to have around for snacking!

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The weather is a little warm and Frosty the Penguin is thinking about taking a dip after his photo shoot

I brought two trays of the Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars to my office and they received rave reviews and requests for the recipe.  We concluded they are not overly sweet–just sweet enough to satiate a sweet tooth.  In texture and taste they remind me of a California cheesecake.  Smooth and creamy with, in this case, a nice crunch and nutty flavor from the oatmeal crust.  The cranberries add a slightly acidic bright note and a sense of healthiness for those who shop at Whole Foods or deign to control calories during the holidays.  This is a festive looking, crowd pleasing recipe that is easy to whip up and use at home or for service at a party, in the office, or as a snack that will send folks back for seconds and thirds.

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Make sure to check out all the other great recipes we found this month:

5.0 from 1 reviews
Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars
 
Author:
Ingredients
  • •2 cups flour
  • •1½ cups quick oats
  • •¾ cups plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar, divided
  • •1 cup butter, at room temperature
  • •8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • •1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • •¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • •1 teaspoon vanilla
  • •2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • •1 (16 ounces) can whole berry cranberry sauce
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven 350°. Line a 13 x 9 baking pan with non-stick foil.
  2. In large bowl combine flour, oats, ¾ cup sugar and butter; mix until crumbly. Set aside 1½ cups crumbs for topping, and press the rest into the prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes. Cool completely.
  3. In large bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy, gradually mix in condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. Spread over crust. In small bowl combine remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar, cornstarch and cranberry sauce. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top.
  4. Bake 40 minutes. Let cool completely on wire rack, then chill before cutting. Store in refrigerator.

 

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WRITTEN BY

Christy Majors

Food enthusiast, wine aficionado, BBC Food fanatic, and cookbook bibliomaniac, who suffers from an incurable case of culinary wanderlust. Creator of Culinary Diva (TM) where experiences in food, travel and wine are broken down for the home cook and traveler. Banker by day.
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13 Comments

  1. Oh, you are SO sweet, Christy! I’m so glad you made these bars…now I’m dying for another taste 🙂 Thanks again for your kind words…and for the giggles I get every time I remember that night in Seattle!

  2. I love this recipe – in fact, my husband just had a can of whole cranberries in his hand this afternoon saying, “what are you going to do with THIS now? it will be outdated before next year”. Now I know! 🙂 My grandson has now seen your penguin and he’s running around saying “Pengu” at the top of his lungs – So, I will calmly make the cranberry dream bars and raise heaven and earth to find that little guy a Christmas Pengu!

  3. These bars look too yummy and I look too Asian!! LOL!!

    Lets catch up again soon!! You are too busy for words, really, we gotta do something about that lady!

    and the next time you bake something fabulous, lets get together, no matter the distance! 🙂

  4. Christy, These bars look fantastic! Liz always has wonderful goodies on her blog, and you certainly picked something mouthwatering!
    Love the photos of your trip to the IFBC! Wish you were able to make it last year, I would have loved to meet you!

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