Caramel apple cheesecake cookie bars are the perfect welcome to fall baking!
Have I shared my families big news with you? My dad's wolf-pack recently grew two sizes. Well, two very tiny tiny sizes.
A few weeks ago my father found two lost baby Chihuahua mutts wondering the streets where he works. My father works in a very dangerous area where dog fighting is rather common, so he couldn't imagine leaving these little girls to fend for themselves. He gathered the combined weight of 5 pounds of all bone and set them on his lap for the duration of his day and brought them home to meet his two boys, giving them a forever home where they wont have to ever fend for food again.
Actually, I give it 2 months before the girls are on the comfortably plump size. 😉 My dad has a way of spoiling his pets.
Needless to say, this girls were taken to the vet, medicated and walked about the local pet store to be primped with pink skirts and collars, sweaters, pillows blankets and even pink socks for their tiny paws for when the weather turns bitter.
Seriously, I didn't have this much pink growing up. However, maybe I was the devious one who made sure the pink tennis skirt was hidden in the cart.
Handsome and I have full intentions of going back for the unicorn costumes before it's too late.
Photographing the girls has proven to be very difficult!
So you will have to excuse the lack of puppy cuteness and just stare at these caramel apple cheesecake cookie bars instead. 😉
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter - at room temperature
For the cream cheese layer:
- 2 8- oz packages cream cheese - softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs - at room temperature
- 1 teas vanilla extract
- 2 large golden delicious apples
- ½ teas cinnamon
- 2 teas sugar
For the topping:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup 1 stick butter - at room temperature
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
For the dough:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a bowl, combine the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender, or a fork, until the mixture is crumbly. (You’re going for a sand type texture with coarse crumbles remaining). Press the dough evenly into a 13 × 9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition, stopping if needed, to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix until combined.
- Don’t over-beat the cheesecake batter, just mix until everything is blended well. Pour the cream cheese batter over the crust.
- Peel, core, and chop the apples into pieces. Toss the apples with the cinnamon and sugar.
- Spread the apple chunks over the cream cheese mixture.
For the topping:
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, oats, and brown sugar. Cube the butter and using a pastry blender, or fork, create a crumbly mixture (once again, not smooth – crumbly) and sprinkle heavily over the cream cheese layer. You may not have to use the entire mixture – or you may – you’r call.
- Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F for the last 5 minutes, or until cream cheese layer is set. Cool completely and serve with caramel topping if desired.
Notes
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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This is week two of my 12 week endeavor for holiday themed baking! Please go check out the other bloggers participating in the 12 weeks of Christmas Cookies and prepare your jingles for jangling.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I love it! And I want to see some puppy cuteness! Whhat a sweet story!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I want to see those pups!!! Another amazing looking apple dessert!
amanda @ fake ginger says
Aww, that sounds like something my dad would do too. I used to come home to dogs in our garage - he'd be out knocking on doors trying to find the owner. Dads are awesome.
These bars look seriously delicious! I don't even like apple but with caramel and cheesecake? I think I could handle some apple.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
Serve with caramel if desired???? It's required! Look at those bars. They're gorgeous. And perfect. And wonderful. I'm making them today; I swear I am.
How sweet is your dad to pick up those little ladies and adopt them instead of taking them to a shelter. That is one big hearted man! I can't wait until you're able to take pictures of them in their little outfits!
Chris @ TheKeenanCookBook says
Your Dad is a good man rescuing and taking care of those pups. I have a rescue dog myself, and I just can't understand what drives people to do the things they do to these poor animals.
I am in love with this recipe. I've been promoting any and all apple recipes I come across because, in my opinion, we foodies have for the most part bypassed apples and gone to pumpkin. So sad! More apple love is needed, and this recipe is a great contribution. Om nom nom! 😉
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
Can't wait to see those cute little pups! How great of him to take them home and give them a place to live.
These bars are amazing! Everything about them is just deliciousness!
Baker Street says
Love your 12 weeks to christmas countdown. You had me at caramel! The Cheesecake cookie bars look divine!
We're having an apple blog hop too! You should come and share your recipe w us: https://bakerstreet.tv/2011/10/01/apple-blog-hop-cream-cheese-apple-tart/
Lacy says
Aw! They sound like lucky pups! And these bars look amazing!! Layers of goodness 🙂
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
OMG, I can only imagine how cute those puppies are. Poor little babies. Your dad sounds like an angel.
Oh yeah, and WOW, your bars look divine.
Erin says
I've been wanting to branch out to other fall flavors besides pumpkin, and this is it!
Tina@flourtrader says
I have a special chihuahua at home and am glad your dad found it in his heart to save those two abandon/lost pups from the street.
The flavor layering in these bars are awesome. Nothing here I do not like-delicious post.
Sandra's Easy Cooking says
What a cute and sweet post, Kita!
Your cookie bars look amazing..It would be perfect with cup of cold milk:))
Dionne Baldwin says
Thats ok these apple bars sound so ONO! WOW! I can just imagine the puppy cuteness...I used to detest the little outfits on dogs and now that I have a bishon (mix) he is so prissy that he just SCREAMS to be dressed! Gotta have the accessories!
I'm so grateful that they found a good home. I would like to officially abopt your caramel apple cheesecake bars. They look like they need my home!
SarahCupcake says
These sound too good to be true. I love cute little puppies, and your dad sounds like a total prince for bringing them home. 🙂
Steph@stephsbitebybite says
So glad that your dad saved the little puppies!! We need more people like that! And these bars look absolutely fantastic! They look so gooey! And I LOVE goo!!
Sudha says
The cookie bars look absolutely yummm and delicious!Good thing that you gave the pets a nice home:)
Foodness Gracious says
Mmm these look presidential and I only use that word for the special stuff! Great story about the pets and I love dogs, I have a labrador but I like looking at your bars more 🙂
Glad to have found your blog, and I'll follow you on Twitter...
Take care...
Kristen says
I cannot wait to see the puppies in their pink outfits. They sound SO cute! For now, though, those cheesecake bars have my full attention. They look delicious, Kita!
ping says
Another fantastic cookie bar! And I so need to see the pics of the pups ... or when they're all nice and chubby!
Happy When Not Hungry says
Wow these bars look amazing! Love that caramel drizzle on top. Great photos too!
Elies_Lie says
a cheese cake and apple in a bar! perfect!
Tq for sharing the recipe kita... and tq for sharing the story with us...
your father is a lovely and warm-heart person... glad to know that there's still a person like like ur father in this world 🙂
My little sister chihuahua is missing a month ago and just a week ago she being find by the neighbor ... she is so skinny and looks so sad when the first time being found, but now she stay by my sister lap and don't want to go anywhere 🙂
Lovely dessert kita! u got my buzzed!;)
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Can't wait to see pictures of the new pups! Unicorn costumes would be amazing! Oh, and these bars are also amazing!
Trisha says
Kita, these bars look great. I can't wait to see the pictures of the new gals!
Parsley Sage says
Oh, i'm sure you'll find ways to incorporate puppy cuteness in future posts 🙂 Loving the pink!
Loving these cookie bars too...holiday yumminess!
Carrie @ poet in the pantry says
YUM! I'll take some, please! So kind of your father to rescue those pups from the street. I bet their adorable in their pink duds!
Imwaytoobusy says
I keep scrolling by these bars in my reader. I have to stop and stare every time. Caramel, apple, and cream cheese? Perfect.
Your Dad sounds like a wonderful human being 🙂 His puppy rescue is just adorable.You will have to share photos!
Ann says
These apple cheesecake bars look amazing and your dad is a keeper!
Ali says
Your dad is a great man saving those puppies, I can imagine the smile on his boys when they saw the puppies.
The cookie bars look stunningly delicious. care to share 🙂 nice photos.
Lindsey@Lindselicious says
OMG I want i want I want! These look so good! Buzzed and bookmarked for later. =)
DawnB says
Great story accompanied with a great recipe. Hats off to your dad!
Fresh and Foodie says
Dang girl! These are looking fab. Three of my favorite things all in one bar -- perfection!
Liz says
I found these on the Food Network and made them yesterday...they are FABULOUS!!! Your photos are wonderful, too~
nicole says
you better share pictures of the dogs!!!!
My boss makes these all the time. she loves cheesecake and I love these since it's not too much cheesecake since the apples and caramel help cut that richness.