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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

5 from 1 vote
Makes about 18 bars

Ingredients
  

Crust:

  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • cup (147 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt

Filling:

  • 8 cups (900 grams) finely diced peeled Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples
  • cups (250 grams) granulated sugar, divided
  • teaspoons (3 grams) ground cinnamon, divided
  • ½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground nutmeg
  • 3 (8-ounce) packages (680 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • 3 large eggs (150 grams), room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons (6 grams) vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (165 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (50 grams) old-fashioned oats
  • ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (85 grams) chopped pecans
  • Salted Caramel Sauce (recipe follows)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, letting excess extend over sides of pan. Spray foil with baking spray with flour.
  • For crust: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour and salt, beating until just combined. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
  • Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Leave oven on.
  • For filling: In a large bowl, stir together apples, ½ cup (100 gram) granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon (2 grams) cinnamon, and nutmeg. Let stand until apples have released most of their juices, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Drain apples, discarding liquid.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, and remaining ¾ cup (150 grams)granulated sugar at medium-high speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour onto cooled crust. Gently spread apple mixture on top.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon (1 gram) cinnamon. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans; sprinkle onto apples.
  • Bake until center is set and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 160°F (71°C), about 45 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate, uncovered, until cold, at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
  • Using excess foil as handles, remove from pan, and cut into bars. Serve with Salted Caramel Sauce.
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