APPLE STREUSEL CREAM CHEESE BARS

Apple Streusel Cream Cheese Bars image

Provided by Sylvia Waldsmith

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 21

CRUST
1 box yellow cake mix
8 Tbsp butter, melted
1 large egg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
CREAM CHEESE FILLING
16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
21 oz canned apple pie filling
STREUSEL TOPPING
3/4 c all purpose flour
3/4 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
5 Tbsp melted butter

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray the bottom of a 13" x 9" baking dish.
2. Prepare crust by mixing together all crust ingredients in a large bowl. Press dough into the bottom of the baking dish. Set aside.
3. In the same bowl you made the dough in, beat cream cheese for 3 minutes until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat for another 3 - 4 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Beat for 5 minutes. Pour filling evenly over dough.
4. Take a knife and run it thru the apple pie filling, breaking up the large pieces of apple. Spoon the apple pie filling evenly over cream cheese.
5. In same bowl you made the filling in, mix together all the topping ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle topping evenly over apple pie filling.
6. Bake for 45 - 55 minutes or until cream cheese filling is set and, if using a glass dish, the crust is a golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
7. Cut into bars and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.