These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars have a shortbread crust, a cheesecake layer, and are topped with diced cinnamon apples and a sweet streusel topping.
I’ve been making this Paula Deen recipe for a couple of years now. They’ve always been good but they always needed a little more cheesecake filling in my opinion.
My thinking is that more filling would match the thick crust and ample streusel topping. So I increased the cheesecake filling and these are even better than I remember.
It may seem like a lot of steps but they actually come together quickly and are well worth your time.
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These Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are the perfect fall dessert. However, it's good any time of year!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened
- 3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/2 cup 1 stick butter, softened
- 1/2 cup caramel topping for drizzling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 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.
- 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.
- In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
- 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.
- 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!
Enjoy these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars!
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