Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 (8- ounce) block cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon, divided
- 1 large egg
- 2 small Granny Smith apple, peeled and small diced
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium sized bowl combine crust ingredients, flour, brown sugar and butter with a pastry cutter, or fork until they make a coarse crumb. Press the mixture firmly in the bottom of the pan and bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. in a mixing bow, combine cream cheese, vanilla, egg and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Beat until combined and smooth. Set aside. Dice apples and sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Stir until coated evenly. Set aside. Combining the light brown sugar, flour, oats and butter and stir with your pastry cutter or fork until evenly mixed. Set aside. When crust is done baking, spread the cream cheese mixture on top of warm crust, top with diced apples and finally with streusel. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until center is set. When done drizzle caramel sauce all over the top. Let the pan cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes and then place in refrigerator to chill for approximately 2 hours, or overnight. Cut into squares when ready to serve.