These apple streusel bars are delicious! They are the perfect combination of apple pie, cheesecake and oatmeal cookies packed into a little flavorful bar. Don’t they sound delicious?!?! You will thank me later when you taste them for yourself. These bars went very quickly in my house. They have apples in them so they are healthy, right? An apple a day keeps the doctor away, even if it is surrounded by sugar and cream cheese?
Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Recipe modified from Betty Crocker
Preheat Oven to 350o F
3 large apples, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 cup butter
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1egg
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In medium bowl, mix sliced apples with cinnamon and brown sugar. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld together.
Place cookie mix in large bowl. With a fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly and coarse. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture; press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Next layer the cinnamon sugar coated apples evenly over the cream cheese. Finally, sprinkle reserved crumbs over top. Sprinkle with walnuts.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Cool about 30 minutes. Refrigerate to chill, about 2 hours. To cut the bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
Tips:
1) I used Cortland apples, but Granny Smiths, Macintosh or your favorite apple will work just as well.
2) Pecans in place of walnuts would be just as delicious.
3) Keeping up with my New Year's resolution, I used low-fat cream cheese :)
