Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars

Name: Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 3 dozen
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 3/4 cup cold butter, cubed; 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 3 medium tart apples, peeled and finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; STREUSEL:; 3/4 cup all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats; 1/3 cup cold butter, cubed; 1/3 cup hot caramel ice cream topping

Total Time Prep: 30 min. Bake: 25 min. + chilling

Yield 3 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

These apple caramel cheesecake bars are perfect for autumn desserts, although they're delicious at any time of the year. The bars are easy to make ahead of time and the streusel and caramel toppings will have you coming back for more bites.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 medium tart apples, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
STREUSEL:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup cold butter, cubed
1/3 cup hot caramel ice cream topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into a well-greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Spread over crust.
In a small bowl, toss apples with cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining sugar; spoon over cream cheese layer. In another bowl, mix flour, brown sugar and oats; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apple layer.
Bake 25-30 minutes or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping; cool in pan on a wire rack 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 191 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 94mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

The streusel topping that comes with this recipe for apple cream cheese bars is absolutely irresistible. If you can’t resist a “taste test” before a party, just arrange each apple bar on a serving platter and no one will know a piece is missing from the pan! —Katherine White, Henderson, Nevada

Recipe Creator