Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bites

I haven't linked up with my friendsFall Friday Recipe Linky Party for a couple weeks so I thought I'd go for it again this week.  This is one of my all-time cheesecake finds (found it from Paula Deen)

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter

16 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar plus 2 tbs divided
2 eggs
2 apples cut into tiny pieces (I always make hubby do this part)...Granny Smith is preferred but use what you have
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
(I also add a pinch of ginger)

Add flour and brown sugar...cut in butter until crumby
Press into a 13x9 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar.
Add eggs and Vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy
Pour over crust
Mix apples, 2tbs sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and pour over cream cheese filling
Sprinkle with streusel topping (recipe below)
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes

Streusel Topping:
1 cup Dark brown sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup quick cook oats
1/2 cup butter
Combine all together using your hands until you make crumbs

I cut these into bite size pieces and put them into mini cupcake papers.  Drizzle with caramel when done.

Homemade Caramel (this is a very basic recipe)
1 cup cold water
3 cups sugar
2 cups heavy cream

In medium saucepan combine water and sugar and heat over med. heat until sugar dissolves.  Increase to high and boil w/o stirring until liquid becomes an amber color.  You can swirl the pan occasionally to create even heating.  Once you have that amber color, remove from heat and add the heavy cream very slowly while whisking vigorously.  Once all combined, move back to a med/low heat and stir until sauce is smooth.
Note- to get rid of sugar on the sides of the saucepan, wet a pastry brush and brush the sides of pan downward into mixture.

Enjoy!!  Up next week, the other cheesecake bites you see...wonder what flavor they are...