Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Bars

 Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Bars

(serves 6-8)

This fall dessert can be a little labor-intensive, but it is worth the end result!  Think of cheesecake plus apple pie - yum!

Crust:

1 3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 c. old-fashioned oats

1/3 c. chopped pecans

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 c. unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. plus 1 TBSP sugar, divided

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

3 c. thinly sliced Golden Delicious apples (about 2 large)

2 TBSP flour

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 c. apple butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8x8 baking pan with foil. Spray with cooking spray and coat with flour.
2. For crust: Stir together flour, brown sugar, oats, pecans, baking powder, and salt. 
3. Drizzle with melted butter and mix with a fork until crumbly.  SET 2 CUPS ASIDE IN A SMALL BOWL.
4. Press remaining oat mixture into prepared pan and bake until lightly browned, about 16 minutes.
5. For filling: beat cream cheese 1/4 c. sugar, and vanilla until creamy.
6. Add egg and beat until combined.
7. In a separate bowl, toss apples, 1/2 TBSP flour, 1 TBSP sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
8. In another bowl, mix apple butter with 1/2 TBSP of flour until combined.
9. Arrange apple mixture in bottom of prepared crust.
10. Spread cream cheese mixture over apples.
11. Drop apple butter mixture by heaping spoonful over cream cheese mixture.
12. Crumble reserved oat mixture over top.
13. Bake until top is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
14. Let cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 8 hours.
15. Use foil to remove from pan. 
16. Cut into bars and drizzle with caramel sauce.

Enjoy!