Marble Cheesecake Squares

If you've forgotten to set out the cream cheese to soften, arrange the unwrapped blocks in a single layer in a large bowl, and microwave at HIGH a minute or until slightly soft.

Yield 12 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs (about 9 cookie sheets)
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 2 (8-ounce) blocks fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 large egg whites
• 1 large egg
• 1 ounce semisweet chocolate

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°.

Place crumbs in a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; drizzle with butter. Toss with a fork until moist. Press into bottom of pan. Bake at 325° for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack.

Place cheeses in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Add sugar and flour; beat well. Add vanilla, egg whites, and egg; beat until well blended. Pour cheese mixture into prepared pan.

Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 1 1/2 minutes or until soft, stirring after 45 seconds (chocolate should not completely melt). Stir until smooth. Drop melted chocolate onto cheese mixture to form 9 mounds. Swirl chocolate into batter using the tip of a knife. Bake at 325° for 35 minutes or until almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 239 (29% from fat)

Fat: 7.6g (sat 4.1g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.2g)

Protein: 9.7g

Carbohydrate: 31.4g

Fiber: 0.6g

Cholesterol: 41mg

Iron: 0.6mg

Sodium: 355mg

Calcium: 124mg

Patricia Baird, Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2004

Streusel-Topped Key Lime Squares

If you can't find key limes, you can use regular Persian limes. The squares will be just a bit sweeter.

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp grated lime rind
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp lemon extract
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
Cooking spray
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 T all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup fresh key lime juice
3 large eggs
1 T powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Place first five ingredients in a medium bowl, beat with a mixer at medium speed until creamy (about 2 minutes). Lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup, level with a knife. Gradually add 1 cup flour to mixture, beating at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gently press two-thirds of mixture (about 1 1/3 cups) into bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; set remaining 2/3 cup flour mixture aside. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until mixture is just beginning to brown.

Combine 2/3 granulated sugar, 3 T flour, baking powder, and 1/8 tsp salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add lime juice and eggs, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour mixture over crust. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Remove pan from oven (do not turn off), sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup flour mixture evenly over egg mixture. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove pan from oven, cool in pan on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

"The Best of Cooking Light 7" - special edition
Yield: 16 servings