I am so excited about this post for you all! First of all, it’s a combo of our favorites in bar form, creamy cheesecake and apple crisp! Plus, we have been bursting to tell you that we have decided to sign on with Fisher Nuts to be their ambassador for another year! Woop, der it is! Actually, we are a “Fisher Nut Thinker” which is a cute way to put it. We love that they are preservative free and easy for us to cook with so it was a great fit. We cannot wait to get into the kitchen and start busting out a few recipes to share throughout the year, and of course we are kicking things off with cheesecake walnut apple crisp bars to celebrate!
There’s a little secret about these bars. For one thing we love a good cinnamon and spice flavor, but we also love a warm, oat topping and this one has walnuts hidden in it for an extra crunch, but the nuts are subtle enough you wouldn’t even guess that’s what it is. Kind of like when I add nutmeg to a cream sauce and everyone is trying to guess the secret. I love a good secret.
And these bars are also how we get to encourage you all to win a trip to New York City and hello, do you see who you would get to meet from the Food Network?!!!! Here are the details and I hope one of you wins!
o Entries can be submitted at www.MyFreshTwist.com from 9/9 to 10/21
o Recipes must include pecans, walnuts or almonds and will be judged on their originality, integration of nuts, taste, and visual appeal.
o Each submission will be featured on www.myfreshtwist.com where Fisher Fans and their friends and families will be able to vote to select the top ten finalists.
o Voting will take place 10/22 through 11/4. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and a panel of judges will choose the grand prize winner from the finalists.
§ Prizes:
· Grand Prize Winner:
o Trip for 2 to NYC including airfare, dinner and accommodations
o Meet Chef Alex Guarnaschelli
o $500 cash
· 14 Semi-Finalists:
o $100 Visa gift card
o Signed copy of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s cookbook: Old-School Comfort Food
· Weekly Prizes:
o Fisher Nut Products
o Copy of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s cookbook: Old-School Comfort Food (which I own and it’s fabulous!)
Are Walnuts Good For You?
Walnuts are the only nuts that contain high amounts of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which promote heart health and help lower blood pressure.
Walnuts promote the health of your gut and may help reduce disease risk.
Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants.
Which Apples Are Best for Baking?
Granny Smith apples are the go-to apples for cooking and baking because of their tart flavor and crisp texture.
Braeburn, honey crisp, gala, and jonagold are also great apples that maintain texture and flavor when baked.
Does Apple Crisp Need To Be Refrigerated?
Apple Crisp should be allowed to cool at room temperature and then stored in the refrigerator.
Cover with plastic wrap with a few holes poked in the top to keep it from getting soggy.
Cheesecake Walnut Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
Cheesecake Walnut Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter, unsalted
- pinch of salt
Topping
- 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped fine
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup oats
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
Filling
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 extra large egg , *see note for substitutes
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Apple
- 2 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- *caramel and ice cream for serving if desired
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 and spray an 8x9" pan with nonstick cooking spray or line with tinfoil.
Crust
- Place the flour, brown sugar, salt and butter into a bowl and using a fork or pastry cutter, cut in the butter until it resembles wet sand.
- Press into the pan and bake for 15 minutes and remove from the oven.
Filling
- Beat the sugar, cream cheese, vanilla and egg together.
- Pour over the crust.
Apples
- Toss the apples with the sugar and cinnamon.
- Spread over the cream cheese layer.
Topping
- In a bowl, mix the walnuts, butter, oats, brown sugar and flour. When you squeeze with your hand it should all stick together.
- Crumble over the apples and bake for 40 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
These bars are gorgeous. I love all things apple and walnut!!!
Laura Dembowski
These look like the perfect treat! So many great flavors and textures.
Sweet Basil
thanks Laura!
Deborah
These look divine and that topping is calling my name!!
Sweet Basil
Thanks Deborah!! xoxo!
naomi
These are so seasonally perfect!!
Amanda
Love the fall flavors in these bars!
Nikki @Seeded at the Table
My oh my! I love apple season and these bars just make me even more giddy!! 🙂 Looking forward to see what else you develop for your Fisher Nuts ambassadorship!
Amy @Very Culinary
Super congrats on the ambassadorship! I think I will make one of these bars to celebrate in your honor.
Sweet Basil
Wish I could eat them with you!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I am loving how delicious these apple crisp bars look! Craving a bite of one right now, I must try the recipe out. Thanks for sharing it…
Sweet Basil
I hope you just love them!
ashley – baker by nature
These bars are amazing!!!! So making them.
Gaby
These bars are incredible!
Sweet Basil
Thanks so much!
leslie
Oh my word. These sound amazing. And I bet the walnuts give the perfect crunchy texture
Sweet Basil
Thanks Leslie!!! Hope you’re well!
Kelly – LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE
Gorgeous bars, Carrian! I love the layers of flavor. Topped with caramel makes it that much better, I can imagine. Fantastic photos! Pinned for later because this a fall dessert screaming my name! 🙂
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thanks, Kelly!
Cookin Canuck
Those bars are absolutely gorgeous…a little taste of fall in every bite.
Sweet Basil
There’s something so comforting about fall desserts and thank you so much!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
These bars are the perfect way to celebrate! Yeah!
Sweet Basil
We think so! THanks!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Congrats on the ambassadorship! Fisher Nuts rock! These bars look absolutely amazing! Love the layers and the topping! Pinning!
Sweet Basil
Aren’t they the best?!
Tammy
I know this is probably a stupid question, but what kind of flour? self rising or all purpose?
Sweet Basil
All purpose. 🙂