Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars


Ingredients
 
For the crust 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

For the cheesecake

1/4 cup sugar

8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the apple filling

2 granny smith apples, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 1/2 tbsp sugar

3/8 tsp cinnamon

For the streusel topping 

6 tbsp butter, room temperature

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For the caramel sauce  

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

1/4 cup butter, cubed 

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

1. For the crust, cut the butter into the flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon until combined and crumbly. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8x8-inch pan that has been lined with aluminum foil.  Bake at 350 until lightly golden brown, 8-12 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.
2. For the cheesecake, beat the sugar into the cream cheese until smooth.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.  Pour the mixture into the baking dish over the crust.
3. For the apple filling, mix the apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a large bowl.  Sprinkle on top of the cheesecake in an even layer.
4. For the streusel topping, cut the butter into the flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon until combined and crumbly.  Sprinkle evenly over the apples.  Bake at 350 until the cheesecake is set, about 25-35 minutes. Let cool.  Refrigerate.
5. For the caramel sauce, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.  Let cool and serve over the apple cheesecake bars.

 

These are delicious!!  They're more like a dessert than a bar; we all ate them with forks, with all that caramel sauce on the top:)  Next time I plan on trying to make them gluten free; I think it'll probably work out fine!

Have a wonderful day!