Mickey Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Makes 8 – 3” Mickey Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

COOKIE BASE

• 1/2 cup (1 stick butter), room temperature
• 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 tablespoon cream or milk
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  
  

CHEESECAKE FILLING

• 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup jellied cranberry sauce, stirred until smooth

Instructions:

1. Make cookie batter – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla extract and milk or cream. Cream well. Sift all-purpose flour and baking powder. Add to the creamed mixture. Shape mixture into a flat disk. 

2. Prepare your pan – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a springform pan. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan and set in place. Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the springform pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a light golden brown. 

3. Make filling – In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, orange zest, and orange juice on medium speed until smooth. Reduce speed to low and add whipping cream and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and mix until smooth.

4. Assemble – Pour cheesecake mixture over  crust. Drop small spoons of cranberry sauce onto cheesecake mixture. Swirl with a knife to create a marbled look. 

5. Bake – Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place springform pan on a baking pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until set. Allow to cool at room temperature and then place in the refrigerator uncovered for 8 hours or overnight.

6. Cut shapes – With a sharp knife, cut around the edge of the springform pan. Remove sides of the pan. Using a 3” Mickey cookie cutter, cut out Mickey shapes. Transfer Mickey cheesecakes to a serving platter or cake plate. Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries. Enjoy munching on cheesecake scraps!