 |
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 50 Minutes |
Ready In: 70 Minutes Servings: 16 |
|
When I take this crowd-pleasing treat to a potluck, I come home with an empty pan every time. Cooking and baking come naturally for me - as a farm girl, I helped my mother feed my 10 siblings. -Jeannette Nord, San Juan Capistrano, California Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened |
1/3 cup sugar |
3/4 cup king arthur unbleached all-purpose flour |
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract |
2/3 cup chopped macadamia nuts |
filling/topping: |
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened |
1/2 cup sugar |
1 egg |
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract |
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) pear halves, drained |
1/2 teaspoon sugar |
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon |
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts.
2. Press into a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
3. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the sugar, egg and vanilla. Pour over crust.
4. Cut pears into 1/8-in. slices; arrange in a single layer over filling. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pears.
5. Bake at 375° for 28-30 minutes (center will be soft-set and will become firmer upon cooling). Cool on a wire rack for 45 minutes.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 16 bars.
|
|