Cranberrry Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars

Description
purchased from the Colvin Estate in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. Notation on card indicates this is a favorite bake sale “goodie”. Recipe from Old Farmers Almanac. Exact date unknown. These are incredible. I have made them at least once a month for the past year and I never make enough (I triple the recipe). They are gobbled up in no time.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
 * 1 cup packed light brown sugar
 * 2 cups cake flour
 * 1-1/2 cups rolled oats
 * 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
 * 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
 * 1 cup dried cranberries
 * 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
 * 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

 * 1) Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until creamy.
 * 2) Beat in flour, Oats and orange peel until crumbly.
 * 3) Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries (reserving 2 cups).
 * 4) Press remaining mixture onto bottom of greased baking pan.
 * 5) Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
 * 6) Beat cream cheese in small bowl until smooth.
 * 7) Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk.
 * 8) Pour over hot crust.
 * 9) Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture.
 * 10) Return to oven and bake 25 minutes.
 * 11) Cool in pan on wire rack.

Contributed by
Cat's Recipes Y-Group