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!

A Christmas/Winter Ruffle Table Runner

My project I told you about that I'm finally sharing with you!!  I had it finished and took pictures, but then when I tried editing them before they wouldn't save; it worked now though so it's all good:)

 

 

I used a fun mitten print fabric; then I incorporated in the green and red to make it a little more Christmas-y.  I think we'll be able to use it all winter though!

 

Did you know it's kind of hard to gather fabric when you have 3 layers??  It is; I have experience now!!!  That's why it took longer than I thought it would to make it:)

 

I think it's cute though:)  It's sitting on the dining room table with some fun little candles in the center of it that we got from a bazaar!  I wish I would've made the table runner shorter, but it works good enough!

Hope you all had a wonderful day!  And have been having fun crafting & baking; getting ready for Christmas!  I need to get BUSY!!  :)

Baker's Review Wednesday: Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture and beat until creamy.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.  Once cookies are off pan, drizzle glaze on with fork.

To make glaze: Combine powdered sugar, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.  Add milk as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.

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The first time I made these delicious cookies was earlier this year in school.  I absolutely LOVED them, so I had to come home and make some, too!  They're soft, delicious yummy-ness!!  Super addicting!  Make them.  They're easy and delicious.  Two things I like when baking!!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!  I should be back soon with some projects I've been working on (Okay . . . well, the one I'm thinking about I started today, but I think I'll finish it tomorrow . . . so I should be back with it soon!!)