Creamy Apple Crumb Bars

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Put softened cream cheese into a mixing bowl.

Spray 9"x13" baking pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom and sides with sheets of parchment paper, arranged in a cross shape so you can later easily lift out the bars.

Mix together packet of oatmeal, 1/2 c brown sugar, 1/2 c sugar, 3 c flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking powder in a large bowl.

Cut up all the butter into tiny chunks and top the flour mixture with it. Quickly mix in the butter pieces with your hands. You DON'T want the butter to melt or to become a ball of dough - you want to keep mixing with your fingers until mixture becomes "crumby" like sand and peas. 

In small bowl, gently beat together 1 tsp vanilla and 1 egg. Pour into crumby flour mixture and mix some more with fingertips.

Measure 4 cups of the dough (setting aside any extra) and press into parchment-lined baking pan, spreading it evenly over entire bottom. Bake it dry, as it is, for 15 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and let sit on stovetop and leave oven on 350°F.

Take the remaining dough mix and add 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Mix together. This is your topping.

Now, peel and core apples and cut into small chunks. Put apples into a large bowl and add 2 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp salt.

Back to the bowl of cream cheese now. Add 3/4 c sugar to the cream cheese. Mix with hand mixer about 5 minutes, until creamy. Scrape down sides, as necessary.

Beat in 3 eggs individually, scraping down the sides of the bowl each time. Add 2 tsp vanilla and beat until smooth.

Spoon cream cheese filling onto crust in parchment-lined baking pan and spread evenly. Scoop apple mixture over cream cheese mixture but don't add any residual juices from apple bowl. Now, crumble the topping over the apple mixture.

Bake 1 hour until the golden-brown. Allow to cool 2 to 3 hours, then cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Remove solid bar from pan using parchment paper. Cut into small bars. This yields 8 large, or 16 small bars.