The Deen Bros. Lighter Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping

168 Fewer Calories
13 g Less Fat

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 (8-ounce) packages fat-free cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and finely chopped

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup fat-free caramel sauce

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with foil, allowing the foil to extend over the rim of the pan by 2 inches. Spray the foil with nonstick spray. 

Pulse the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until crumbly. Transfer the mixture to the baking pan, pressing firmly to form an even layer. Bake until the crust is set, about15 minutes. Transfer to a rack.

Meanwhile, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually beat in the sugar until blended. Beat in the egg, egg white, and vanilla until combined. Pour the filling evenly over the warm crust. Sprinkle the chopped apples evenly over the filling.

To make the topping, using a fork, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, oil, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a small bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the chopped apples. Bake until the filling is set and the topping is lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack. Drizzle with the caramel sauce. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours. Lift out using the foil as handles. Cut into 24 bars.

Servings: 24
Prep Time: 20 min
Bake: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Per Serving (1 bar): 178 Cal; 5 g Protein; 6 g Tot Fat; 3 g Sat Fat; 2 g Mono Fat; 26 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 12 g Sugar; 14 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 216 mg Sodium; 21 mg Cholesterol

Original recipe courtesy Paula Deen:  Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
Lightened Up recipe courtesy of The Deen Brothers and the Paula Deen Test Kitchen