Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

If you came across a cheese cake and an apple crumb pie that fell in love and decided to get married ('cause food does that ya know) and then decided to have babies, I can only imagine that this is what one of their babies would be.

Some like it hot (my 10 year old) and some like it cold (the rest of us), but it is always delicious.

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
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 firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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 and 3/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs, 1 at a time. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, combine all streusel ingredients and mix well with a fork (or your hands).

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 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool.

Recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Shared with Sweet as Sugar Cookies.