Apple Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 (8oz) packages cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 Tbls., divided

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

5 small apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Steusel: 

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup quick oats

1 stick butter, softened

**Adapted from a Paula Deen recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a fork, cut the softened butter through the flour and brown sugar in a bowl. Press the mixture in a tin-foil lined 9X13" pan. Bake for 15 minutes. 

Note: To soften butter quickly, put the stick (still in the wrapper) on defrost in the microwave for about 30 seconds. 

Meanwhile mix cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar on med-high speed. Add one egg at a time, mixing between each addition. Then add the vanilla. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the warm crust.

Peel, core, and dice about 5 small apples. (I had Gala apples on hand.) Mix the apples with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and 2 Tbls. sugar. Spread the apples evenly over the cream cheese mixture. 

Using the fork method again, cut one stick of softened butter through 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1/2 cup quick oats. Add the struesel to the top. 

Bake for 30 minutes. 

You could drizzle caramel topping on the bars, although it isn't needed. This dessert is amazing!