Cheese squares

This is a rich dessert bar with a buttery crust, a cream-cheese filling, and a crumb topping. Kathy's graham-cracker variation works especially well when we want a slightly different crust.

Ingredients

For the crust/topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 cups flour, or Kathy's modification below
• 1 cup melted butter

Kathy's modification

• Get Schar Honeygrams (5.6 oz)
• Crumble graham crackers in a blender
• Add enough flour to make 3 cups of graham cracker plus flour
• Substitute this for the 3 cups of flour

For the filling

• 2 packages 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons cream or milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Optional

• Confectioner's sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt the butter.
3. Mix the brown sugar and flour in a large bowl.
4. Stir in the melted butter and mix with your hands until crumbly.
5. Remove 1 to 2 cups of mixture for the topping.
6. Line a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper, add the remaining crumbs, and press firmly.
7. Bake the crust for 12 to 15 minutes and remove it from the oven.
8. While the crust is baking, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
9. Add eggs, lemon juice, cream or milk, and vanilla. Beat until combined.
10. Pour the filling onto the baked crust.
11. Top with the reserved crumbs.
12. Bake again at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
13. Cool thoroughly, then chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.
14. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar once cooled.
15. Cut into small squares and keep refrigerated.