I was delighted to be invited to participate in the first Improv Cooking Challenge hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain. And even more excited to learn our October theme would be apples and caramel. I had already baked Pastry Wrapped Caramel Apples and my brain was buzzing with ideas of what to make next. I finally decided on Paula Deen’s Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping. I’d satisfy my apple, cheesecake, caramel and streusel cravings with one yummy bar.
I modified Paula’s recipe by making only a half pan (this is so I can REMAIN a skinny chick!), leaving out the oatmeal in the topping (picky hubby again), and microwaving my own caramel sauce instead of using a jarred version. My friend, Tracey, shared a super easy way to make caramel sauce in the microwave…it takes less time and effort than driving to the grocery store. My first batch scorched at the minimum cooking time of 5 minutes, so be sure to monitor carefully between minute 4 and 5. I added vanilla but otherwise followed the Cook’s Illustrated recipe exactly. See Tracey’s Culinary Adventures for detailed photos.
I hope you’ll try these gems. They are sinfully delicious. I took some to my knitting group and immediately was asked for the recipe. I know you’ll be glad to have it in your repertoire, too. And be sure to check out all the other caramel apple wonders listed below~
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars…adapted from Paula Deen
1 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick butter), at room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar plus 1 heaping T, divided
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 small to medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Streusel:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup Quick Oats (optional)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick), butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup+ caramel topping (jarred or use recipe below)
Preheat oven to 350º. Line 8 x 8 inch pan with non-stick foil or foil sprayed with Pam.
Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives till mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into prepared pan. Bake 12 minutes or till lightly browned.
With mixer, beat cream cheese with 1/4 cup sugar till smooth. Add egg and vanilla and blend. Pour over crust and smooth top.
Combine apples with the remaining sugar and cinnamon. Toss to coat and sprinkle over cream cheese mixture.
Prepare streusel by combining all ingredients. Crumble evenly over apples. Bake for 30 minutes or till filling is set. Drizzle with caramel sauce.
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Microwave Caramel Sauce…adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1/8 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy cream, hot
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Stir together sugar, corn syrup, water and lemon juice in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup or a microwave safe glass bowl. Microwave on high till mixture just starts to brown…it will be a very, very pale tan…5 to 8 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave. Mine took only 4 1/2 minutes so keep a close eye on the molten sugar between minute 4 and 5.
When the mixture just starts to brown, remove it from the microwave and allow to sit for 5 minutes. It will magically continue cooking and browning to a deep caramel color. Then, slowly and carefully add hot cream, one tablespoon at a time. It will bubble up, so take care not get get any of the liquid on your skin. Add butter and vanilla.
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{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Isto deve ser tão bom, vou guardar a receita…bjs
Isto deve ser tão bom, vou guardar a receita…bjs
DROOLING all over the screen!
Yummy! I am a fellow Improv Challenge participant and your newest follower.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com
These look amazing! Glad to be doing the challenge with you – looking forward to next month already!-
These look great. I love the combination of apples and caramel – they go so well together and putting them with cheesecake sounds incredible!!
Oh, I love cheesecake and those look wonderful!
Can you send me a huge piece? It would make my day! It’s chaotic here in Rome, today it rained cats and dogs and I got saoking wet!
These look amazing!
Oh how I wish you were my next door neighbor!!!
What great bars! So many yummy things in one delicious little bar!
This must be the first time I’ve come across this challenge and suddenly I see two posts for it all at the same time. The other was Kristen’s bread pudding. This is so gooeyly delicious!! I love bars!! (Not the booze places)
Want to bring me a slice?! Yum-o. I’m ready to give this one a try. Enjoy the challenge recipes today… I know I am
I’ve been thinking hard about how to use up all my apples, then I click on your post and here are 63 ways with apples and caramel! Your bars look so gorgeous and yummy, I’m beyond myself!
This has it all doesn’t it? You’ve taken my favorite ingredients and artfully combined them.
Oh wow Liz! These sound so decadent. I love cheesecake but with apples and caramel…it sounds incredible. You can never go wrong with Paula Deen recipes!
Great recipe!! Sweet, with caramel and apple, shortbread, streusel…. it has to be yummy!
My mouth is watering. I’m a sucker for anything caramel.
Ann
Look delicious dear Lizzy! caramel and apples is delicious!! gloria
These look delicious. And microwaving caramel? That I’ll have to check out!
This all looks so good.
Except the caramel, I’m actually not that fond of the stuff. :\
this is such a tempting and simple dessert, anything with apples will for sure make me drool Lizzy, what more with the sauce on top.
I was planning on baking with apples this weekend. I’ll have to make this recipe!
What a wonderful seasonal treat!
Absolutely everything that’s perfect about fall! Looks gorgeous and rich. Yum.
I love cheesecake and these little squares do look amazing. The apples and caramel are a great pair. Well done Lizzy!
Mmmm, I love cheesecake. I am participating in the Improv Cooking Challenge too. I am loving checking up everyone’s goodies.
I LOVE your recipe! Thanks for participating in THE IMPROV COOKING CHALLENGE!! I can’t wait to see what you do next month with Pumpkin and Cream Cheese. —Sheryl—
Such beautiful pictures! I love cheesecake and your apple caramel cheesecake bar version looks even better! Your picture looks so inviting…I think that cheesecake bar is waiting for me
Oh look at all these amazing caramel apple treats! These bars would (and were – I made a version not too long ago from Zoom Yummy) be a hit in my house for sure =)
These look scrumtious! Thanks for visiting my blog. I’m #53.
Lizzy! YUMMMMMMM! I am so making this for my mother’s birthday in a few weeks. What a great combo of cheesecake, caramel and streusel. LOVE IT!
Heavenly!!! My goodness, who doesn’t love caramels and apples?!
Your pix of these delightful cheesecake bars are so appetizing!
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe… I’d love some with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee! xo
These cheesecake bars look delicious! I love cheesecake and caramel sauce combo!
Your cheesecake bars look amazing and I need to give them a try.
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my Improv Cooking Challenge recipe: Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
Ooh – these look so decadent! Yum.
I’m not usually a cheesecake fan, but you may have convinced me otherwise.
This is one glutton that can’t refuse cheesecake and then you tell me I can have it in bars with caramel and apple? My waistline doesn’t like you.
This is awesome, first time I am seeing apple included in cheesecake and formed into bars!
Really like your new site! Haven’t been doing a lot of commenting recently because of cataract surgery.
You knit too? Where do you find the time? There must be two of you!
Love this recipe. Another perfect & unique fall recipe…thanks!
This is beyond incredibly gorgeous Liz! I love it! I reallyyy want to make these now but I’m supposed to watch my figure, maybe I’ll make a half of a half batch lol. Have a good one! =]
That improv cooking challenge sounds pretty amazing! I love improv in the kitchen.
The thought of caramel and apple in a bar makes my mouth water, but add the word “cheesecake” and I am smitten!
yum!
I love this new idea for a bloghop! And that picture with the drizzle down the side of the pitcher? YUM!
These look insanely decadent–love that second photo with the bars oozing caramel.
Oh, these cheesecake bars are HEAVENLY!! And now you totally have me drooling all over all the other delicious caramel recipes you shared!!
Delicious! My second improv challenge that I’ve seen – they’re amazing! (and this one is delicious!)
What elegant dishware! The plates completely enhance the already aesthetically alluring treat you’ve made! Beautiful!
Mm, I don’t think these could look any more delicious!
Liz, myself amd Miss caramel share a very good relationship. I would marry her if I could and live in a caramel house with a caramel car and eat caramel every day. You get the idea caramel is my fav dessert?
I love the new blog look, I so want to change up my place but looking for the right move..
Take care1
Caramel, apples and cheesecake! pure indulgence!
Mmmmmmmmmmmm yummmmmm… I think I have already said this, but I so wish you were my neighbor! These bars look so sinful and I LOVE the idea of making the caramel sauce in the microwave. A must try!!!
BTW, I love the new layout of the site! Really cute! <3
Droooolingggggg….
I need to move closer to you…
Want all these deliciousness…
I’m actually shocked to see so many apple & caramel recipes are out there. Your cheesecake bars with caramel apple in it sound so yummy! Your photo of caramel drizzling over the bar is amazing! Have a wonderful weekend!
I think I am a bit too early today looking for a new recipe from you, ok will come back later.
Oooh , the minute I see cheesecake I am hooked , it looks so delish . I had made a caramel apple cake a week back but haven’t posted yet , can’t believe ther are so many recipes and everything looks great , have a great weekend Lizzy
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Another keeper Liz you are on a roll!
Wow you have caramel coming out of everywhere lol. I’ll have to try this microwave one. And apple cheese cake bars sounds amazing.
I’m dreaming in apples and caramel right now – I’ll take a whole tray!
Congratulations Liz On Top 9!
These look awesome! I especially love the streusel topping!! So happy to see them in the top 9 today
Look pretty tasty to me.
Mimi
The caramel really sends this over the edge. I’m in awe of your baking abilities!
Apples and caramel are a perfect fall combination, and these bars really look good! I’m wishing for one (or five) right now.
I’m a fellow Improv Cooking Challenge participant stopping by to say hi … and I made the exact same thing for this challenge! I agree these bars are absolutely YUMMY! I also modified Paula’s recipe by only making half a pan, and I reduced the butter … they were still great! Your bars look delicious!
Tracey
Love it…..thank you so much for sharing…great job!
I swear, I’ve bookmarked almost every single apple recipe you’ve posted Lizzy! These will be no exception, love the combo of flavors
Thanks for the shout-out – I have a big batch of that caramel in my fridge that I’ve been using to dunk my apples into!
YUMMY! I’m a sucker for caramel and apples, so this is great looking recipe to me!
Holy crap! Seriously… your desserts always make me so hungry!
Lizzy, what a gorgeous way to combine these fabulous Autumn flavours!
Amazing!! I can’t wait to try them! I definitely need to start making all of my desserts in smaller batches!
Look great. The combination of apples and caramel is great. Adding these all ingredients together and putting them with cheesecake sounds incredible.
Wow that cheesecake looks amazing, Lizzy! Great caramel and apple recipe pick. I was tempted to make this recipe but I ran short on time and it seemed like alot of work lol. I bet it tasted so good!!
All of the apple dishes look incredible! Your pictures are alway so beautiful and make me so hungry! Can’t pin from my android tablet sadly but will when I get home!
What a seductive looking bar!
Wow, wow, wow! These are to die for.
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com
these were amazing werent they?? i had my husband’s team over for dinner and the entire dish was completely gone!
Liz, thanks for linking this in to Food on Friday. Have a great week.