Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Perfect dessert for fall!

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1  cup butter, softened

• Cheesecake Filling

• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 3⁄4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 3  large eggs
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Apples

• 3  granny smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• Streusel Topping

• 1  cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1  cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened

• Drizzle

• 1⁄2 cup  caramel topping (for drizzling after baked)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture.
5. For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
6. 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!