Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars start with a shortbread nut crust, then creamy cheesecake is swirled with seasoned apples and drizzled with a delicious caramel sauce! If you like cheesecake and apple pie then you’re going to love these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars! This recipe is a combination of the love my son has for cheesecake and the love my husband has for apple pie. I decided to put the two together and make one scrumptious dessert. For the crust I made a shortbread and added in some walnuts to add a little more depth to it. Then you have your traditional cheesecake layer which is topped with apples and a little bit of reserved crust. I made my favorite easy caramel sauce and drizzled it on top to make the perfect dessert!

Ingredients are as follows:

crust:

1/3 C butter, softened

1/3 C brown sugar

1 C flour

1/3 C ground walnuts

filling:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 C sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling

caramel:

1/2 C brown sugar

1/4 C butter

1 Tbsp. pancake syrup

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with aluminum foil; spray with non-stick cooking spray.

Cream the butter and brown sugar together.

Mix in the flour and walnuts.

Reserve 1/2 C and press the remaining into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Bake for 5-8 minutes; until slightly brown. Set aside to cool.

Cream the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together.

Mix in the eggs, one at a time.

Pour into the parbaked crust.

Spoon the apple pie filling on top.

Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 C crust on top.

Bake for 55 – 60 minutes; the center should slightly wiggle.

Allow to cool completely. While it’s cooling mix the brown sugar, butter, syrup, salt and vanilla together; boil for three minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Place back on the stove for another minute to thicken up. Allow to cool for a few minutes.