These festive cheesecake squares feature a nutty brown sugar shortbread crust sprinkled with miniature candy-covered chocolate pieces, then topped with a vanilla cheesecake filling, sprinkled with more candy pieces and lastly a crumb topping finishes it off.

Favorite Cheesecake Squares

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3/4 cup miniature candy-covered chocolate pieces

1. Beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and chopped walnuts; mix well. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture; press the remaining into the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Bake at 375º F (175º C) for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla, mixing with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add egg; mix well. Layer 1/2 cup candy pieces on the crust; top with the cream cheese mixture.
3. Combine remaining candy pieces and the reserved crumb mixture; mix well. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cream cheese mixture.
4. Bake at 350°F (175°C). for 20 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Makes 16 squares.