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Cozy Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Bars with Brown Sugar Streusel

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These cozy caramel apple cream cheese bars combine tart apples, tangy cream cheese, sticky caramel, and a crunchy brown sugar streusel topping for a perfect homemade dessert that’s quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (315 g)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (200 g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (225 g)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (225 g)
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar (67 g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 medium apples (about 1 lb / 450 g), peeled, cored, and diced
  • ½ cup brown sugar (100 g)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup caramel sauce (120 ml)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crust and streusel mixture: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups (250 g) of the flour, ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside about 1 cup (125 g) of this mixture for the streusel topping. Press the remaining mixture evenly into the bottom of your greased 9×13-inch pan. This creates a firm, buttery base. (About 10 minutes)
  2. Make the cream cheese layer: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and egg until smooth and fluffy. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust, smoothing out with a spatula. (5-7 minutes)
  3. Prepare the apple filling: Toss the diced apples with the remaining ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Spread the apples evenly over the cream cheese layer. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the apples — don’t worry if it looks a little messy; it will bake into a beautiful glaze. (5 minutes)
  4. Add the brown sugar streusel topping: Sprinkle the reserved streusel mixture evenly over the apples and caramel layer, gently pressing down to help it stick. (2 minutes)
  5. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the streusel is golden brown and the cream cheese layer is set. The caramel will bubble up slightly around the edges — that’s your cue it’s done! (40-45 minutes)
  6. Cool and slice: Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Let the bars cool completely before slicing into squares to prevent the layers from sliding apart. (At least 1 hour)

Notes

If the streusel browns too quickly, loosely tent the pan with foil halfway through baking. For cleaner slices, chill the bars in the fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. Use cold butter for the streusel to ensure crumbly texture. Avoid overmixing the cream cheese layer to prevent separation during baking. Frozen diced apples can be used if thawed and drained well to avoid sogginess.

Nutrition

Keywords: caramel apple bars, cream cheese bars, brown sugar streusel, autumn dessert, easy homemade dessert, fall baking, apple dessert

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/cozy-caramel-apple-cream-cheese-bars-recipe-with-brown-sugar-streusel-easy-homemade-dessert/