Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars combine apples and cheesecake to make one delicious dessert.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE CRUST
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
FOR THE CHEESECAKE
- 3 8-oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 c. sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- pinch of kosher salt
- 3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
FOR THE STREUSEL TOPPING
- 3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/4 c. granulated sugar
- 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 c. butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- Caramel, for serving
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9-x-13” baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make crust: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add butter and use your hands, or a pastry cutter, to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it’s crumbly and moist. Press into prepared pan and set aside.
- Make filling: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluff. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Mix in vanilla and salt. Pour over the crust.
- In a small bowl, toss together apples, 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Make streusel topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, sugar, flour and oats, then cut in butter with a fork or pastry cutter.
- Scatter apples on top of the cheesecake mixture, then top with oat mixture.
- Bake until the cheesecake is only slightly jiggly in the center, about 55 minutes. Let cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, drizzle with caramel sauce and slice into squares.