'Tis the Season (Part 4)

For some of us it's that time of year when we are transitioning from Thansgiving into Christmas and from Fall into Winter. To mark the occasion, Wendy and I have decided to do a series of Holiday related posts. The 4th and final part is Holiday Recipes!! 

Louisana Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

24  OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 2 cups)

¼ cup  butter, melted

6 squares  BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided

3 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

¾ cup  sugar

1 tsp.  vanilla

3  eggs

1 Tbsp.  red food coloring

Directions

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

MIX cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.

MELT 4 chocolate squares as directed on package; place in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add eggs; beat just until blended. Remove 2 cups batter; mix with melted chocolate and food coloring. Carefully spread over crust; cover with remaining plain batter.

BAKE 26 to 28 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Melt remaining chocolate; drizzle over dessert. Refrigerate 4 hours.

My friend, Emmalee, found this recipe for me when I was looking to try something new for the family. She found it on Kraft.com. It was a hit at Thanksgiving and was requested for Christmas…from someone who doesn’t like cheesecake. If that isn’t a shining endorsement I don’t know what is!!

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Chocolate PB Fridge Cookies

2c sugar

1/2 c milk

4 TB cocoa powder

1 stick margarine or butter

Mix together, bring to boil while constantly stirring, remove from heat and

add:

1c PB

1 tsp vanilla

Stir until well combined and add:

3c quick oats

Mix well and drop by spoonful on wax paper lined platters chill for 2 hours

until set.

This was one of my favorites as a child that my grandmother used to make every year around the holidays.

They are so easy to make and they are a huge hit with kids and adults alike. The only trouble is keeping people out of them until they are set! (hehehe)