Cheese Cake Cookie Bars

I love cheese cake, but it is not always easy to eat.  You normally need a plate, and a fork to eat it with. So that is why I love these Cheese Cake Cookie Bars, you can eat them on the go, at a party, on a picnic just about anywhere.  They are also simple to make and taste AMAZING 🙂 Thanks to my mother in law for this family recipe.

You will need:

• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup melted butter
• 2 – 8oz cream cheese (for a total of 16 oz)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
•  2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix brown sugar, nuts and flour in a bowl. Stir in butter and mix until crumbly.  HOLD BACK 2 CUPS you will need this for the top.  Take the rest of the mixture and firmly press it into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Take out and let rest.

Beat cream cheese, sugar till well blended. Beat in the eggs, then add lemon juice, milk and vanilla. Blend and then pour into the 9×13 pan that you baked the crust in, spread in an even layer.  Then top with the 2 cups of reserved crumbs.  Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Let cool then store in refrigerator, cut into squares and serve cold.