Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup shortening or 1/2 cup butter flavor shortening
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup seedless raspberry preserves or 1 cup jam, not jelly
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Recipe

• 1 combine flour, sugar and the 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds in a medium bowl. using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs. set aside 1/2 cup for topping.
• 2 press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of an ungreased 13" by 9" by 1" baking pan.bake in a 350* oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
• 3 beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, eggs and almond extract in another bowl with a mixer on low speed until smooth. spread cream cheese mixture over hot pie crust and return to oven to bake for 15 more minutes.
• 4 stir preserves or jam until smooth. spread over hot cream cheese. combine the reserved crumb mixture, coconut and second 1/2 cup almonds and sprinkle over preserves.
• 5 bake about another 15 minutes or untiltopping is golden brown. cool in pan. cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours before cutting into bars.
• 6 store, covered, in refrigerator.