Festive Jewel Nut Bars

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar, divided
• 3/4 cup cold butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups salted mixed nuts
• 1 1/2 cups green and red candied cherries, halved
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 (8 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar, white granulated
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

1. 1. In a bowl, combine flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.
2. 2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
3. 3. While bottom layer is baking - make cream cheese layer by mixing the following in a small bowl:
4. 4. 1 regular package of philadelphia cream cheese (not the small size).
5. 5. 1/3 cup of white granulated sugar.
6. 6. 1 egg.
7. 7. 1 teaspoon vanilla.
8. 8. Mix cream cheese layer with electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Spread on crumb layer and then continue with recipe below.
9. 9. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat egg. Add salt and remaining brown sugar.
10. 10. Stir in the nuts, cherries and chocolate chips.
11. 11. Spoon evenly over crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven. Be careful not to over cook these.
12. 12. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield 2 dozen.
13. The original recipe does not call for a layer of cream cheese. I modified the recipe to suit my taste after I made it the first time without the cream cheese layer. I felt it was too dry and needed additional texture that the cream cheese layer adds nicely.

flour, brown sugar, cold butter, egg, salt, nuts, green, semi sweet chocolate chips, cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/festive-jewel-nut-bars-442146 (may not work)