Recipe which gives a new twist to your dessert table

Dried oranges and apricots often appear on Georgian holidays, but they are almost never together. You may not know it, but the mixture of their flavors is considered a classic and is the origin of many recipes. The recipe presented by us today is created exactly with their mixture and we are sure it will become the star of your table.

Cheesecake bars with dried apricots and oranges will add joy to your dessert table, it is stored for almost a week in the refrigerator and a few weeks in the freezer, allowing you to prepare it in advance and bring it to the table when needed. However, it is possible that this recipe will become a favorite of the family.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp cold butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the cheesecake filling

• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp grated orange zest, finely minced
• 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots

Instructions

1. In a food processor pulse together the flour, vanilla, sugar and butter until crumbly (or simply cut the butter through the flour and sugar with a pastry knife or two butter knives held between your fingers)
2. Save a 1/2 cup of this crumble mixture to sprinkle over the top later.
3. Press the rest of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 9x9 inch square baking pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes while preparing the cheesecake filling.
5. Beat together the cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract until smooth.
6. Beat in the egg and orange zest.
7. Fold in the chopped apricots.
8. Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly onto the pre-baked cookie base and sprinkle the reserved cookie crumble over the surface.
9. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving.
10. Refrigerate in airtight containers. Freezes well too.

Bon appetite!