Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar, plus 2 Tbls., divided

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Streusel topping, recipe follows

½ cup caramel topping

 

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar.  Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.  Press evenly into a 9 x 13 inch pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil.  Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with ½ 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.

 

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 Tbls. Sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.  Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping.  Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set.  Drizzle with caramel topping.

 

Streusel Topping

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup quick-cooking oats

½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened

 

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Recipe from Paula Deen