Make room for dessert this Thanksgiving

Ready or not, Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

If you are still searching for a dessert recipe, may I suggest the following light, yet delicious recipe for cheesecake bars that are very much in keeping with the season.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Crust:

2 cups plain flour

½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

Cream cheese layer:

Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling:

2 large, tart apples, i.e. Granny Smith, finely chopped

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Topping:

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup plain flour

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup oats

½ cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the flour and brown sugar and cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Press the mixture into a foil-lined 9x13-inch pan and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Combine the cream cheese and sugar; beat until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time and then add the vanilla.

Pour the cream cheese layer over the warm crust.

Combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spoon this filling over the cream cheese layer.

Stir together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, oats and butter and crumble over the apple filling layer.

Bake until the filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Drizzle your favorite caramel topping over the top of the cooled bars.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Linda Murchison can be reached at 315-4431 or lmurchison@nwfdailynews.com. Write to Daily News, P.O. Box 2949, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.