caramel-apple-cheesecake-bars-wmToday, you are in luck because I’m giving you a recipe for this divine, delectable, delicious, deliriously decadent dessert. Did you like all that alliteration?

I get requests for this every time we have a potluck. If you take this to a potluck you will instantly become the most popular person there. Those of us who are “popularity challenged” need all the help we can get!

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not make up this recipe, and I have no idea who did, but bless you, whoever you are. More disclosure: I have not made this recently, though my husband would love me more if I did. And another disclosure: this is an updated version of a previous post so if it looks familiar…it is!

(Just kidding about that husband loving me more thing.)

(I hope I’m kidding.)

(I’m pretty sure I’m kidding.)

I apologize to anyone who who would rather not be subjected to deliciousness of such epic proportions in the interest of calories and other such necessary but tiresome issues. Look away now.

For those of you concerned with the tiresome above mentioned issues, you are not allowed to eat this, but you can make it so you can become popular. Baking is allowed. Even sampling your baking is allowed. Baking a whole pan of brownies (or in this case, Caramel Apple Cheesecake) to satisfy your sugar craving and eating the whole thing by yourself is not. Don’t ask me how I know this.

The recipe I used is here, but I’ll repost it for you because I like to make your life easier like that! The picture is also hers, not mine, but mine looks just like this! We just ate it up too fast to get a good picture!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly 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, peeled, cored and finely chopped (I use whatever apples I have on hand)

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

You will also need:

1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping (or you can make your own if you want to get really crazy and live large)

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 

Make the crust:

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 9×13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. I suggest lightly greasing the foil, though that’s not included in the original recipe. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Make the filling:

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar with 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.

Streusel Topping:

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. I like to really combine it by using my clean hands to thoroughly combine the butter into the mixture.

 

Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set.

Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Serve cold, cut into bars, and enjoy!

 

I will do a print friendly version of this recipe soon, but for now if you want to copy and paste it into your own document you can print it that way.

Image Credit