Ingredients
Scale
For the Blondie Dough:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- ¾ cup oil (vegetable or any preferred type)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (regular or gluten-free, such as Cup4Cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups Golden Delicious apples, peeled and diced (about 2 large or 3 small apples)
- ½ cup chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup butterscotch chips (check for gluten-free options if needed)
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Topping:
- Caramel ice cream topping, for drizzling
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prepare the Baking Dish
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Prepare the Blondie Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, and oil until well combined.
- Stir in the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. The mixture will be thick, resembling cookie dough.
- Fold in the diced apples, butterscotch chips, and chopped nuts. You may need to use your hands to knead everything together.
- Reserve 2 cups of the dough and set it aside for the topping.
- Press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared baking dish.
3. Make the Cheesecake Filling
- In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Beat with a hand mixer until smooth and lump-free.
- Pour the cheesecake mixture over the blondie dough in the baking dish. Smooth it out using an offset spatula.
4. Add the Topping
- Using a small spoon, dollop the reserved blondie dough over the cheesecake layer. Don’t worry if some of the cheesecake filling remains visible.
5. Bake
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 50–55 minutes (add 5 extra minutes if using gluten-free flour).
- If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil.
- Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; the apple dough should be cooked through.
6. Cool and Add Caramel
- Let the bars cool in the dish for about 15 minutes.
- Drizzle the caramel topping over the cooled bars for a finishing touch.
Notes
- Use the Right Apples:
- Golden Delicious apples are ideal for their balance of sweetness and firmness. However, you can substitute with Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples for more tartness.
- Prevent Over-Browning:
- Keep an eye on the top during baking. Use a foil tent if necessary to avoid over-browning.
- Room Temperature Ingredients:
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened for a smooth cheesecake layer.
- Gluten-Free Option:
- Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend like Cup4Cup to accommodate dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes