Premier Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 18 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 38 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package spice cake mix
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 (16 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°; position oven rack in middle of oven; spray bottom only of a 13x9 inch metal baking pan with cooking spray.
• 2 in a bowl, add cake mix and melted butter; blend 1-2 minutes with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended.
• 3 stir in oats with a wooden spoon; press half the mixture evenly into prepared pan; add chocolate chips to remaining oat mixture; set aside.
• 4 in another bowl, beat cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with electric mixer on medium speed until blended and smooth.
• 5 spoon and spread cream cheese mixture over prepared crust.
• 6 in a small bowl stir together the cornstarch and cranberry sauce until well blended; spoon over cream cheese mixture.
• 7 top with reserved crumb mixture and press down gently.
• 8 bake 35-38 minutes or until topping is set and firm to touch.
• 9 transfer to wire rack and cool completely; cut into bars.