Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cheese Bars

This crunchy chocolate chip, cranberry and orange-scented bar is balanced with a lightly sweetened layer of cream cheese. A tasty treat for fall and winter holidays.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 (12-ounce) package NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Sweetened Condensed Milk

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour, oats and orange peel until crumbly. Stir in morsels and cranberries; reserve 2 cups mixture. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of prepared baking pan.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Beat cream cheese in small mixer bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Pour over hot crust; sprinkle with reserved flour mixture. Bake for additional 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Makes 36 bars.

Recipe and photograph are the property of Nestlé® and Meals.com, used with permission.