Lightened-Up Cheesecake Bars with Fruit Topping.

What You'll Need

Crust

• 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 21/2 tablespoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend

Filling

• 1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup (2%) cottage cheese
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Blueberry Topping

• 1½ cups fresh or frozen (defrosted) blueberries
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1½ teaspoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend
• 3-4 tablespoons water
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cherry Topping

• 1½ cups pitted and chopped fresh cherries or frozen and defrosted
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1½ teaspoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend
• 3-4 tablespoons water
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make It

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9X9-inch pan with nonstick aluminum foil. Make sure that it overhangs the sides so you will be able to easily lift the cheesecake bars out of the pan. (You can also use an 8X8-inch pan but you may need to cook the filling a few minutes longer.)
2. In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend. Transfer to prepared pan and press firmly and evenly along the bottom of the pan.
3. Bake for 5-8 minutes. Let cool.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and cottage cheese until smooth.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
6. Add SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, flour, vanilla extract and almond extract and beat just until evenly mixed.
7. Pour batter on top of cooled crust. Place in oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
8. Let cool on the counter and then refrigerate to chill.
9. To make toppings, (making one at a time), combine fruit and SPLENDA® Sugar Blend in a small saucepan. In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water. Add to pan. Bring to a simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. If too thick, add another tablespoons of water.
10. To serve, cut cheesecake into bars and top with fruit topping.

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