CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS

I've been making this Paula Deen formula for a few years now and they've generally been great however they constantly required somewhat more cheesecake filling as I would see it to coordinate the thick hull and adequate streusel beating.

So I expanded the cheesecake filling and these are surprisingly better than I recall.

It might appear as though a ton of steps however they really met up rapidly and are certainly justified regardless of your time.

These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have a flaky shortbread outside layer, a straightforward cheesecake filling, and has cinnamon apples and a dark colored sugar streusel on top. Sprinkle caramel sauce on top when serving. I like Mrs. Richardson's caramel or whatever other brand that is on the thicker side.

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

•  2 cups all-purpose flour
•  1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
•  1 cup butter softened

Cheesecake Filling:

•  3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese softened
•  3/4 cup sugar , plus 2 tablespoons, divided
•  3 large eggs
•  1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Apples:

•  3 Granny Smith apples , peeled, cored and finely chopped
•  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•  1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:

•  1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
•  1 cup all-purpose flour
•  1/2 cup quick cooking oats
•  1/2 cup butter softened

Drizzle:

•  1/2 cup caramel topping for drizzling after baked

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
4. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
5. For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.
6. Sprinkle Streusel topping over apples. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold and enjoy! Make 16 servings.