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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookie Bar
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookie Bars

This ultimate mash-up of comfort and decadence combines a short oat cookie base, a creamy cheesecake layer, sweet apples, a crisp streusel topping and a drizzle of luscious caramel.
Adapted from Zoom Yummy
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple, bar, caramel, cheesecake, cream cheese, crumb topping, nut free, oats

Equipment

  • 1 baking pan (9x13-inch)
  • 4 bowls (small and medium to large)
  • pastry blender (or food processor)
  • electric mixer
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 ½ cup flour
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 6 tablespoon quick oats
  • 1 ½ cup butter unsalted, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Filling:

  • 16 ounce cream cheese room temperature
  • ¼ cup toasted sugar (or granulated sugar)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Apple Filling:

  • 2 apples large; peeled, cored and sliced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sugar (or granulated sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Crumb Topping:

  • 1 cup oatmeal quick (or old fashioned for more texture)
  • ½ cup brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup butter unsalted, cold
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Topping (optional):

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Alternatively, combine the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
    1 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 6 tablespoon quick oats, 1 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • First with your fingertips, then with the bottom of a cup (or a glass), press the dough evenly into a 13x9-inch baking pan or a cookie sheet with edges. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
  • In the meantime, in a larger bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese with the white and brown sugars, cornstarch and salt until smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time beating until fully incorporated. Next add the vanilla and mix until combined.
    16 ounce cream cheese, 1/4 cup toasted sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoon cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Pour the cream cheese batter over the warm crust.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the apple slices with the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, white and brown sugars and salt.
    2 apples, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 tablespoon toasted sugar, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Arrange the apple slices evenly over the cream cheese mixture.
  • In a smaller bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt and brown sugar for crumb topping. Cube the butter and using a pastry blender (or a fork), create a crumbly mixture. Alternatively, add the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture forms a crumbly mixture.
    1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Crumble the topping over the apples and cream cheese mixture.
  • Bake 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 300°F and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the filling is set.
  • Cool completely and refrigerate before cutting into bars (about 2 in x 3 in).
  • If desired, drizzle with the caramel topping just before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
    3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping