Saturday, October 13, 2012

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

I've been in somewhat of a baking mood this week.  I feel like with the so-sudden change of whether to something that actually resembles fall...it has brought with it my baking mood!  Mike was just talking about one of his favorite fall desserts that I make which also sparked the idea in me...so I went to town earlier this week and made a Cream Cheese Pumpkin Roll.  And Mike always says, "if you put cream cheese on a shoe, I'd eat it".  Not gonna lie, I could just gnaw on the block of cream cheese itself and be totally happy.  I think it's safe to say there is a cream cheese addiction in this household.  

So...I knew this new recipe would be right up his alley with the cream cheese and all.  I saw it on Tracey's Culinary Adventures and knew I had to make it...Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars!!  Caramel apples and cheesecake...two of Mike's favorite things all in one item! I couldn't go wrong!!


And we all know how I love to bake when I have ALL the ingredients just sitting right there in the pantry.  We are really down to the nitty gritty when it comes to actual fresh food.  We cleaned out the pantry before our recent trip to Hawaii and haven't stocked up yet...and we got back last Wednesday :-/  Yeeaa...the grocery and I aren't really best friends.  BUT, I had everything to make these delicious looking bars and a couple apples left from our trip to Apple Hill!

I made everything according to the recipe and did not substitute a thing.  I love how Tracey explains how the textures of the batters, crust, etc. should look once you're done mixing in everything.


I think some bloggers tend to leave out the details for the beginners (like me)...and although pictures help, if the pictures aren't there I need added description.  Tracey does a nice job at this!


Despite the fact that his recipe has several layers you make separately, it was very simple and easy to follow.


  Tracey has a caramel recipe on her blog, but I decided to use a caramel sauce that we had bought from High Hill Ranch at Apple Hill (my favorite of all the farms up there).

Mmmm...

Baking the crust

Adding the Cheesecake and Apple Layers

Ta-Dah! Now we wait...

The one thing that I just can't stand about cheesecakes...you've gotta wait so gosh darn long for them to set!  Can't they just be done out of the oven!?...a little impatient when it comes to my desserts. ;-)

Anyhoo, it was well worth the wait as you can see...the buttery crust, the sugary goodness of the streusel and the tangy apples and cheesecake in the center.  Oh yea, not to mention the gooeyness of the caramel drizzled on top.  It's quite a mouthful of textures and flavors but such a great combination.  I think this might be a new fall favorite for Mikey!