Yield: Makes one 8 X 8-inch dish
This buttery melt in your mouth shortbread has heavenly layers of graham crackers crust, cheesecake, apple filling, crunchy and sweet streusel drizzled with gooey caramel. A luscious dessert that is most loved by everyone.
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
1/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Cheesecake Filling:
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1 8oz. package cream cheese softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Apple Layer:
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 Granny Smith apple
Streusel Topping:
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup oats
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Caramel Drizzle:
12 individually wrapped caramels
1 tablespoon heavy cream
OR salted caramel sundae topping
HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Using a cooking spray, grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
Step 3: Add the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Using a fork, mix the crust ingredients well.
Step 4: Transfer the crust mixture into the greased baking dish. Making sure to gently press down the mixture in the bottom of the pan with your fingers.
Step 5: Add the cream cheese in a mixing bowl, and beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until soft and smooth.
Step 6: Beat in the sugar, egg, and vanilla until completely combined and smooth.
Step 7: Pour the cheesecake filling over the crust and evenly spread.
Step 8: Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl. Mixing well.
Step 9: Before adding the apple into the dry ingredients, peel it first, then, core, and dice into small pieces. Toss to coat.
Step 10: Evenly distribute the coated apples on top of the cheesecake layer.
Step 11: Combine well the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, and melted butter in another medium bowl. Mix well until it formed a coarse meal. Then, sprinkle this over the apple layer.
Step 12: Place inside the preheated oven and bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the streusel is golden.
Step 13: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool onto a wire rack at room temperature.
Step 14: Put in the fridge to set for an hour or more.
Step 15: To make the caramel drizzle: Put the caramels in a microwavable bowl. Melt until smooth on increments of 30 seconds making sure to stir in between. Let this cool for a bit before stirring in the heavy cream.
Step 16: Before serving, drizzle with the homemade caramel sauce or top with caramel sundae topping. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Crust:
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Cheesecake Filling:
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 8oz. package cream cheese softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Apple Layer:
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Granny Smith apple
- Streusel Topping:
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup oats
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Caramel Drizzle:
- 12 individually wrapped caramels
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- OR salted caramel sundae topping
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Using a cooking spray, grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
Step 3: Add the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Using a fork, mix the crust ingredients well.
Step 4: Transfer the crust mixture into the greased baking dish. Making sure to gently press down the mixture in the bottom of the pan with your fingers.
Step 5: Add the cream cheese in a mixing bowl, and beat with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until soft and smooth.
Step 6: Beat in the sugar, egg, and vanilla until completely combined and smooth.
Step 7: Pour the cheesecake filling over the crust and evenly spread.
Step 8: Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl. Mixing well.
Step 9: Before adding the apple into the dry ingredients, peel it first, then, core, and dice into small pieces. Toss to coat.
Step 10: Evenly distribute the coated apples on top of the cheesecake layer.
Step 11: Combine well the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, and melted butter in another medium bowl. Mix well until it formed a coarse meal. Then, sprinkle this over the apple layer.
Step 12: Place inside the preheated oven and bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the streusel is golden.
Step 13: Remove from the oven and allow it to cool onto a wire rack at room temperature.
Step 14: Put in the fridge to set for an hour or more.
Step 15: To make the caramel drizzle: Put the caramels in a microwavable bowl. Melt until smooth on increments of 30 seconds making sure to stir in between. Let this cool for a bit before stirring in the heavy cream.
Step 16: Before serving, drizzle with the homemade caramel sauce or top with caramel sundae topping. Enjoy!
