CARAMEL TOFFEE CHEESECAKE BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Prep a 9 x 13 pan by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Cream together the butter, sugars, salt and vanilla. Beat in the egg, then the baking soda and flour.
• Stir in the chocolate chips, caramel bits and toffee pieces.
• Divide mixture in half. Spread half of the dough evenly into the prepared pan. I use my fingers to do this. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and white sugar until fully blended. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Mix until completely smooth.
• Pour and spread cheesecake layer over the pressed cookie dough layer.
• Using your hands, press pieces of the remaining dough into flat discs. Lay on top of the cheesecake layer. You don't have to have the entire cheesecake layer totally covered. In fact, leaving a bit of the cheesecake layer peeking through in spots looks good once the bars bake and cool.
• Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until the bars are cooked through and top is lightly brown.
• Allow to cool completely before removing from pan by way of the parchment paper.
• Once cooled and removed from pan, cut into twelve equal bars.
• Store in refrigerator.
• NOTE: If you use the caramel bits in this recipe, allow the bars to come almost to room temperature (after refrigerating) prior to serving. The caramel bits harden up a bit in the fridge.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 cup sugar. Add the melted butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Cover the outside of the pan with foil to make it waterproof.
• In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until soft and smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and vanilla. Scrape the bottom of the bowl occasionally with a spatula to prevent lumps. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then fold in the toffee bits. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the foil covered pan into a larger cake pan or any pan with at least 1 inch tall sides. Put into the oven, then fill the larger pan with water, creating a water bath.
• Bake for 90 minutes in the preheated oven, checking after 45 minutes to refill the water bath. After 90 minutes, turn off the oven and leave the cake inside for about an hour. Chill at least 4 hours before removing from pan.