Apple Cream Cheese Breakfast Bars

Submitted by Trennarene

"Amazing, tasty recipe that is a real crowd pleaser! The crust was really good, I wouldn't have thought it would taste so chewy with the ingredients used but it was! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Yields: 18 bars
• Serves: 18

ingredients

• 1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1⁄2 cup half-and-half
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 fresh lemon zest
• 2 1⁄2 cups sliced apples (2 Granny smith apples)
• 1⁄2 cup sliced almonds

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix and 1/4 tsp lemon peel in a large bowl, reserving 1/2 cup of the mixture; set aside.
2. Add butter to remaining mixture and beat with electric mixer at low speed until crumbly.
3. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
4. Beat cream cheese and reserved 1/2 cup cake mix in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
5. Gradually add 1/2 cup of sugar, beating until creamy. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each addition.
6. Blend in half and half and vanilla, pour into baked crust.
7. Combine 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and remaining 1/4 tsp lemon peel in large bowl; add apples. Gently toss until evenly coated.
8. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese batter, sprinkle with almonds.
9. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely on wire rack and then cut into bars.