Fried Apple Cheesecake Bars

Inspired by an award winning Betty Crocker recipe & Grandpa Skips Fried Apples. The best of both worlds... apple pie wrapped in a cheesecake bar complete with an oatmeal cookie crust!!


Ingredients:
1 cup butter#, softened
2 cups brown sugar, packed
3 xl or jumbo eggs or 4 regular, divided
4 teaspoons vanilla, divided
3 cups oatmeal
2 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons flour, divided
1 teaspoons salt
1 heaping teaspoon baking soda
2 (8ounce) packages cream cheese##, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 recipe Grandpa Skips Fried Apples * from this site and added below


# dairy free substitution ~ 1 cup dairy free margarine for butter
## dairy free "cream cheese" substitute ~ Mix together 16 ounces cream of coconut and a heavy dash of lemon juice. Let stand until thick.


Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2) Cream 1 cup butter & brown sugar.
3) Beat in the 2 xl eggs & 3 teaspoons if vanilla.
4) Combine the oats, 2 1/2 cups flour, walnuts, 1 teaspoon salt & baking soda, stir into creamed mixture.
5) Press 2/3 of oat mixture into a well greased 9x13 pan.
6) Bake 10 minutes.
7) Meanwhile, in a large bowl beat the cream cheese, sugar and remaining egg, flour & vanilla.
8) Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the partially baked crust.
9) Spread the Fried Apples evenly over top of the cream cheese layer.
10) Crumble the remaining oat mixture evenly over the apple layer.
11) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes longer or until golden brown.
12) Cool 30 minutes.
13) Refrigerate 2 hours, until well chilled. Slice and Serve. Store leftovers in the fridge.


Grandpa Skip's Fried Apples:
2-1/2 cups apple juice
4 large golden delicious apples, unpeeled and cut into wedges
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
4 Tablespoons sugar


1. In a large skillet, combine the apple juice and sliced apples. Heat on medium until apples are fork tender, turning often to enable even cooking. Be careful not to overcook apples. Remove apples from juice with slotted spoon and place in large bowl.


2. In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir with wire whisk until well blended. Pour hot apple juice into dry mixture. Whisk vigorously until lumps are gone. Pour this mixture back into the skillet and heat on medium heat, whisking constantly, until bubbly and thick.
Remove from heat and pour over apples in bowl. Stir until apples are evenly coated.