Cheesecake Squares with White Chocolate

Take these bars to a potluck, and you can expect to bring home an empty dessert platter.

Recipe Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts - divided use
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup white chocolate chips

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add flour and 1/2 the walnuts, mixing well. Mixture should resemble coarse crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture into bottom of a lightly greased 8-inch square pan.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
4. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, beating at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add egg, mixing well.
5. Sprinkle 1/2 cup white chocolate chips over crust; top with the cream cheese mixture.
6. Combine the remaining chips and walnuts with the reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle evenly over cream cheese mixture.
7. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool and cut into 2-inch squares. Keep refrigerated.

Makes 16 squares.