Cream Cheese Apple Oatmeal Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oats
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus
2 teaspoons granulated sugar, divided
3/4 cup Butter Flavor Crisco or 3/4 cup butter
16 ounces cream cheese
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup diced granny smith apple
1/2 cup golden raisin (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350*.
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and mix well. Add Crisco and cut in until it's crumbly. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture and press remainder into a sprayed 9x13 pan.
Bake for 12 minutes, cool slightly.
In a mixer bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup of sugar, and vanilla. Mix til smooth and spread evenly over oat crust.
Combine apple, raisins (if desired) and almond extract. Stir.
Add spices and 2 T. of sugar and sprinkle over cheese mixture.
Return to oven and bake an additional 25 minutes or til golden. Cool completely and cut into bars.