Bananas Foster Cheesecake Squares recipe

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Filling:
24 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons rum extract or 2 tablespoons dark rum
3 eggs
1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas

Topping:
2 bananas, sliced
2 teaspoons lemon juice
25 caramels, unwrapped (about 1/2 of 14 ounce package)
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
1/2 cup pecan halves

Crust: Mix crumbs, pecans, butter and sugar. Press onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Filling: Mix cream cheese, sugar and rum extract with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix until blended. Stir in mashed bananas. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.

Topping: Toss bananas with lemon juice; arrange over cheesecake. Microwave caramels and milk in microwavable bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes; stir until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon rum extract, if desired. Drizzle evenly over cheesecake. Sprinkle with pecan halves. Cut into squares. Refrigerate any leftover cheesecake.

Makes 2 dozen.