Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Bars

OMG, delicious!! It's the perfect combination of sweets and fairly easy to make since it uses a lot of premade ingredients. I didn't use the granola bars, instead I used some granola I had on hand. Personally, I don't like the crunchiness, so I'll omit them next time. Also, a fellow blogger and friend used caramel ice cream topping instead of melting her own. I think that's a better idea since I now have a fair amount of half and half left. If you're a cheese cake fan, I'd think about doubling the cream cheese mixture. It might be a little too rich then, but I think I'd like more cheesecake. I'm learning my baking hobby is becoming expensive. Beware, this dish will set you back about $10, but it's a great contribution to a dinner party. Recipe adapted from Picky Palate

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tablespoons melted butter

3 Cups Golden Graham Cereal, ground in food processor

1 Roll Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough or 2 pkgs Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Dough Mix prepared and divided into 2 equal parts

8 oz softened cream cheese

1/4 Cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

21 oz can apple pie filling

1.5 oz package Nature Valley Oats N’ Honey Crunchy Granola Bars (2 count), crushed (I use a rolling pin to crush them right in the bag before opening) I used granola, but I'm going to omit all together next time

9.5 oz Kraft Caramels

1/2 Cup half and half

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine melted butter and ground cereal into a large bowl; press into an 8×8 inch baking dish lined with foil that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven. Crumble half of the cookie dough over partially baked crust.

2. Place cream cheese, sugar and vanilla into a mixer; beat until smooth. Pour over crumbled cookie dough layer. Bake for 25 minutes then remove from over. Top with 3/4 of the apple pie filling (I chose to just add part, but you can add the whole can if desired). Next top with remaining cookie dough, breaking off into little pieces evenly over top. Sprinkle with crushed granola bars and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes clean from center. Let cool completely then cut into squares. Melt caramels and half and half according to package directions. Drizzle over each bar. Refrigerate leftovers.

9 squares