Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

By bdave

Recipe by Paula Deen

Ingredients

• Streusel Topping:
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Streusel Topping (below)
• 1/2 cup caramel topping
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13x9 baking pan lined with heavy duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 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. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.