Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

I totally did not create this one, BUT it was so super yummy that I wanted to have it recorded with all my other recipes.  I stole this one from pauladeen.com.  During the month of October, there are several fabulous food celebrations and holidays that take place.  Three of these are national apple month, national caramel month, and national homemade cookie month. SOOO...I decided to combine all this deliciousness with these fabulous Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars from Paula Deen. For me, personally, this is the absolute BEST of everything.  I LOVE caramel, apples, and cheesecake, so for me this was heaven :D

 

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup caramel topping (I used store bought, but I think homemade would be so yummy!)
Streusel Topping
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
*****Mix all this with a fork or your fingers until it is a nice crumbly mixture.

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2)In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13-by-9-by-2 inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
3)In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
4)In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping.
5)Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. (Mine was about 40 minutes)
6)Drizzle with caramel topping.

SOOOO yummy!