Italian Cheesecake Bars Recipe

The Italian cheesecake bars recipe replicates the classic flavor of the traditional Italian cheesecake, with ricotta cheese, cherries, almonds, and golden raisins!

Ingredients
1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter
1 1/4 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
1 15-ounce container fat-free ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup candied cherries
1/2 cup golden raisins

Hardware
Large bowl
9x9x2-inch baking pan
Mixer

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Place butter in 9x9x2-inch baking pan. Put pan in oven for about 5 minutes or until butter is melted.
Step 3: Remove from oven and stir crushed graham crackers into butter. With spoon, press crumbs firmly and evenly into bottom of pan; set aside.
Step 4: In a large bowl, with an electric mixer or food processor; blend ricotta cheese, egg, sugar, flour, orange peel, and almond extract until smooth.
Step 5: Carefully spread cheese mixture over crust.
Step 6: Sprinkle almonds, cherries, and raisins over cheese layer.
Step 7: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are puffed and golden. Cool cheesecake bars for 1 hour on wire rack. Cover and chill in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Makes 20 bars.

For more information on baking procedures and hardware used in this recipe see our Baking Tips section.

For more wedding and ethnic cookie recipes look here.

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