Apple-Raisin Cheesecake Bars

 

For the crust:
1 ½ cups rolled oats
¾ cup flour
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
¾ cup butter flavor Crisco shortening or ¾ stick butter Flavor Crisco

For the filling:
2 packages ( 8oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped Granny smith apples
½ cup raisins
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and ¼ cup sugar in large bowl; mix well.  Cut in shortening with fork until crumbs form.  Reserve 1 cup of mixture.
Press remaining mixture onto bottom of prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is set.  Do not brown.  Place on cooling rack.

To make the filling:
Combine cream cheese, eggs, ½ cup sugar, and vanilla in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended.  Spread evenly over crust..
Combine apples and raisins in medium bowl.  Add almond extract; stir.   Add 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice; mix well.  Top cream cheese mixture evenly with apple mixture; sprinkle reserved oat mixture evenly over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden.  Place on cooling rack; cool completely.