Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe & Smart Balance Contest

When I think of fall, I automatically think of caramel apples.  I remember my mom melting a huge pot of caramel and dipping in countless apples for all of us to devour! Now that I have children of my own, it is a tradition I plan to carry on in my own family.  I decided to try a twist on the caramel apple that would be easier for my toddler to eat, and boy did he eat!
Also, this recipe is entered into a recipe contest with Smart Balance! 
We are so excited to be part of the  Smart Balance Butter Contest! 
Smart Balance contacted us to participate in their contest to win a a trip to the amazing Canyon Ranch in Miami, FL!  If we win, we get to give a trip away to one of our fabulous readers!!
We would love your vote! 
To vote, just like our recipe on their Facebook page.
Thank-you for all your support! We love our readers!
  

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars Recipe:
(Serves 16)

Ingredients:


Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup Smart Balance Buttery Spread Original Flavor, softened (could be substituted with butter or margarine)


Cheesecake Filling:
3 (8 ounce) packages fat free cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar, plus 1/4 cup, divided
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Apples:
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup Smart Balance Buttery Spread Original Flavor, softened (could be substituted with butter or margarine)
Caramel Topping:
1 cup Kraft caramels, melted
1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, combine flour and brown sugar.  Mix in Smart Balance Buttery Spread with a fork until mixture forms crumbs.  Press crumb mixture into a 9×13 pan, lined with foil and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth.  Stir in eggs and vanilla.  Pour cream cheese mixture over warm crust.

In a separate bowl, mix together chopped apples, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Spread mixture over your cream cheese layer.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats and Smart Balance Buttery Spread.  Mix until crumbs form and sprinkle over apples.  Bake for 50-55 minutes or until filling is set.  Melt caramels and heavy cream in a microwavable bowl in 30 second increments, stirring each time, until smooth.  Drizzle melted caramel over your cheesecake and let cool.

  18. Cherrye says:
    November 24, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    These were delicious!! A big hit for my Thanksgiving dessert. My DH is a caramel junkie so I used most of a bag of caramels and increased the cream to 1/3c. to make a solid caramel top (why drizzle when you can drown!), although it was more calories it was worth every bite!

    Reply
  19. Kali Scurdy says:
    January 2, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    i made these for a new year’s eve party. there were nothing but rave reviews. there were 2 people who don’t like cheesecake – AT ALL – but they went back for seconds (& thirds) of these sinfully delectable morsels of apple crack goodness. thank you.

    Reply

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