Cherry Cheesecake Baked Breakfast Bars

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9 x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

2. To a large bowl, add oats, cracker crumbs, cereal, chia seeds, cherries, and nuts; stir.

3. In a medium bowl, combine applesauce, honey, eggs and vanilla. Whisk together with a whisk or a fork. Pour over oats mixture and mix thoroughly.

4. Spread mixture into prepared baking pan; flatten gently with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula. Bake about 20-25 minutes, or until the middle is set. (Bars should still be soft, not golden brown.) Cool.

5. Mix together cream cheese and milk with a fork. Drizzle over cooled bars. Store in the refrigerator; eat cold or microwave about 10 seconds on HIGH. Or freeze for busy mornings; microwave about 45 seconds on LOW/MEDIUM.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Quick-cooking oats (or old fashioned oats)
• 3 each Whole graham crackers, crushed into crumbs
• 1 cup Ring-shaped cereal (like Cheerios®), slightly crushed
• 1 Tbsp Chia seeds (optional)
• 1/2 cup Almonds, chopped (or walnuts or peanuts) (optional)
• 1 cup Unsweetened applesauce
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 3 Tbsp 1/3 Less-fat cream cheese, softened (or Neufchatel cheese)
• 1.5 Tbsp 1% Milk (skim or 2% milk will work as well)