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Whole Wheat Cherry Cream Cheese Bars

 
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Whole Wheat Cherry Cream Cheese Bars Whole Wheat Cherry Cream Cheese Bars

These decadent cherry cream cheese bars will well satisfy your cravings for something rich and sweet. They are made with whole wheat flour, light cream cheese, homemade cherry pie filling, a small amount of butter and some olive oil. Much healthier but still tastes delicious. Nobody can resist these sweets, the more importantly you don't have to feel guilty about it.

Yield

16

servings

Prep

20

min

Cook

45

min

Ready

3

hrs

Trans-fat Free, Low Sodium
 

Ingredients

Crust
½ cup walnuts
pieces, divided
cup whole-wheat flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
firmly packed
1 tablespoon butter
if use unsalted, add a pinch of salt
Filling
3 tablespoons olive oil
or canola oil, or grape seed oil
¼ cup coconut, shredded, unsweetened (desiccated)
*
8 ounces cream cheese (reduced-fat)
softened
¼ cup sugar
granulated
1 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cherry pie filling:
8 ounces dark sweet pitted cherries
fresh or frozen, about 1 1/3 cups
*
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
freshly grated
1 teaspoon cornstarch
teaspoon almond extract
*

Directions

To make the cherry pie filling:

In a small saucepan, add all the cherry pie filling ingredients, bring a boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium-low or low, and simmer for about 8 minutes, or until the mixture is thickened and jam like. Remove from the heat and set side.

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃).

Grease a 8 by 8-inch pan with butter, then line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper.

Chop half walnuts coursely for topping. Set aside.

To make the crust:

In a food processer, add the remaining walnuts, flour, brown sugar, butter, oil and coconut.

Process until well ground and coarse meal forms.

Remove ¼ cup and mix with ¼ cup of coarsely chopped walnuts in a small bowl. Set aside.

Press the remaining crumbs in the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Bake at 350℉ (180℃) F for about 15 minutes, until edges are lighty browned.

Meanwhile prepare the filling:

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract until smooth.

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the hot baked crust. Return to the oven.

Bake for about 25 minutes until the cream cheese layer has set.

Spread the cherry pie filling over cheese layer. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over cherries.

Return to oven and keep baking for another 20 minutes or until the top starts to become golden and brown.

Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

Refrigerate for at least several hours or overnight until it sets. Cut into 16 squares.

The bars can be kept in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

 

* not incl. in nutrient facts

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 40g (1.4 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 14357% of calories from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 56mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars g
Protein 7g
Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 3% Iron 4%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?

 

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