Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

To die for delicious! We served this for friends and let's just say my neighbor was knocking on my door the next day hoping there were left-overs...Yeah, there weren't...

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

Adapted from Paula Deen

2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cubes butter, softened

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 Tbsp, divided

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Streusel topping (recipe follows)

1/2 cup caramel topping (we used homemade...recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9X13 pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar on medium speed (electric mixer.) Add eggs, one at a time and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with streusel topping. Bake 30 minutes or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.

Streusel Topping:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup (1 cube) butter, softened

Combine all ingredients.

Buttermilk Caramel Topping:

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup real butter (no substitutions)

2 Tbsp corn syrup

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

Combine buttermilk, sugar, butter, corn syrup and baking soda in a 4 quart pan. Bring mixture to a boil. and reduce heat to low. (Make sure it is still bubbling...) Cook, stirring very frequently for 7-9 minutes or until the syrup reaches a rich golden brown. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.