Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

So my husband teaches sunday school to the 12 year olds at our church.  I was so excited when they asked him to do it because my first thought was "Yayyyy.  Little children to bake for!"  (Not to be the weird witch from Hansel & Gretel or anything.)

I made these for his kiddos a few weeks ago and they were well-received.  (Except for the kid who hates cheesecake which I can completely relate to at the uncultured age of 12.  He will learn.)  We took the leftovers to a neighborhood chili cookoff and when one of his kids spotted them she walked off with an armful of bars.  Compliment received! 

These are a perfect fall bar.  I recommend you make some now, but this recipe make a LOT, so find some random children to fatten up if you need to.

 Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Crust:

-2 cups  flour

-1/2 cup packed brown sugar

-1 cup (2 sticks) 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

-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel Topping:

-1 cup packed brown sugar

-1 cup  flour

-1/2 cup quick cooking oats

-1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

Drizzle

-1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

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.

 

Peel, core, and chop your apples finely.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 

Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. 

Mix your streusel ingredients together with a fork until well combined. 

Then sprinkle streusel evenly over the apple layer. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. 

Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool.

 

Serve cold and enjoy!